Ryan Adams & The Cardinals
Jacksonville City Nights
Lost Highway/Universal

Described by some as a musical chameleon, Adams choses to label himself a shark, explaining that he must always be moving forward or else he will die. While you can't deny that he is always moving, Jacksonville City Nights sounds like a step back, into a country bar in the 1950s.

Recorded with traditional bluegrass orchestration including fiddle, minimal drums and backing harmonies, this record effortlessly brings back the good old days before country music moved to Nashville and sold its soul. From the opening bar the album has a unique feel about it that sets it apart from his previous albums, Adams' voice is richer and the production has the energetic feel of Bakersville recordings.

It's not all about sounding authentic though, Jacksonville City Nights is bursting with great tunes, from the heel toe sounds of 'A Kiss before I Go' and 'The Hardest Part' to the stripped back beauty of 'Withering Heights' and the duet with Norah Jones 'Dear John'.

The record begins to drag on towards the end as the energy peters out and Adams resorts to the slow acoustic strum and slit your wrists lyricism that he often leans towards as the hours pass in his epic live shows. In a way this is reflective of the man himself, he moves from styles as his manic moods change, which is often confusing to the casual listener but is endearing to his fans as he effortlessly excites with his choice of genre alone.

For the second album released this year, Ryan Adams is proving that he has returned to form with two records of different style but equal quality. With one more album to come before Christmas, the year is shaping up to be one of the troubled troubadour's best.