Music Capsule Review

Love Is Hell, Pt. 2 (2003)

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RYAN'S MOPE Adams' melancholy ''Love Is Hell'' EPs contain songs from an LP his label initially thought too downbeat

Credits

Release Date: Dec 09, 2003; Lead Performance: Ryan Adams

By Will Hermes

''I could be anything,'' sang Adams on ''Love Is Hell Pt. 1,'' and that's his main problem. For the Love Is Hell Pt. 2 EP, part two of the melancholy LP initially rejected by his label (who sent him back to make the rowdier, somewhat play-acted ''Rock 'n' Roll''), he's a sad lounge crooner (''My Blue Manhattan''), a kiss-'n'-tell Dylan (''English Girls Approximately''), and a skid-row Prince (the ''Purple Rain''-beckoning ''Hotel Chelsea Nights''). It's impressive, if knocked-off-sounding, and yes: Song for song, the EPs trump ''Rock 'n' Roll.'' But they also perpetuate the image of Adams as scattershot chameleon instead of showing him as an artist who digs deep. We're rootin' for ya, dude.

Posted Dec 29, 2003

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