Ryan Adams Looks at the Darker Side of Love on ‘Prisoner’

The deep, emotional pain caused by the estrangement from his ex-wife Mandy Moore led to the creation of Ryan Adams most vulnerable album yet. “Prisonerwas artfully dropped on Valentine’s Day and is quite possibly one of the best gifts the world could have asked for. Full of both self reflection and accusation, “Prisoner” takes what could have become a melodramatic collection of topics about self-pity and turns it into a blisteringly raw look into the dissolution of the modern relationship. Completely consumed by his own pain, Ryan Adams is relentless in defending his innocence in the matter of his divorce.  Though “Prisoner” does lean toward becoming a one sided affair that does little to nothing to address the hurt Adams himself may have caused Moore and which may have aided in the relationship’s end, he does so with such gusto, no one really minds. On a day Hallmark uses to sell cards about everlasting love, it is beyond refreshing to hear someone express their thoughts about the other and very real side of love- its end.

“Prisoner” at its core is a breakup album. While most breakup albums today seem to veer towards the realm of self doubt and pity, Adams’ does not cave into that cliche. The 12 track record becomes the sonic equivalent to every pissed off text you have ever wanted to send an ex, but then deleted after your better reasoning took over. The wonderful thing is that Adams doesn’t delete the message. Instead of stepping back, he puts that infuriatingly indescribable mental state to song for all, even Moore, to hear. Each track is enveloped by a similar sentiment, including the second guessing and true wrath one only understands once they have been left by someone they love. “Prisoner” avoids sounding repetitive and self indulgent by being able to express the nuances and different types of sorrow one experiences at the fall of a relationship. From the grim “Breakdown,” to the subversive “Haunted House,” and the spirited “Outbound Train,” Adams captures them all. His songwriting leads the offensive attack with quippy and all too relatable lines.

“Shiver and Shake” features the lines, “I close my eyes, I see you with some guy, laughing like you never even knew I was alive.”

Abstract concepts like loneliness, anxiety and paranoia all of a sudden feel tangible. Slow burning emotion, stark guitars and ambient flourishes fill “Prisoner,” along with higher pitched vocals (than we have come to expect from Adams) make for a record that is less aggressive in sound. The result is an enveloping and relatable post love weariness.

“Prisoner” is a gripping portrait of one man’s private heartache. Equal parts compelling and vulnerable, Adams’ ability to present such personal devastation with no added frills or boundaries is admirable to say the least. Polished atmospherics and brutal revelations make this one of his most mature records to date and definitely a message many of us needed to hear.

Prisoneris available to stream via NPR First Listen Feb. 14 and on Apple Music Feb. 17.