Though that could be attributed to a predilection for melancholy that goes right back to Adams' days with Whiskeytown, it would be fairer to point out the sadness was always there in Swift's superbly crafted songs.
Arguably, Adams hasn't added anything new to Swift's exploration of break-ups and trial by media and, at times, he veers too deeply into sentimentality (Out of the Woods).
Yet his version of 1989 offers another chance to grasp his elusive musical tastes.
• Ryan Adams. 1989. PAX-AM.
• Four stars (out of five)
Single download: Blank Space
For those who like: Bruce Springsteen, Martha Wainwright
- Shane Gilchrist
