What hurts most about this album, is that Mr Adams probably wrote most of these songs in the parking lot of the studio just before recording them. It frustrates me to no end that this guy is so talented. No rephrase that, it frustrates me to no end that his record company is so reluctant to release more of his recordings. Rumoured albums such as '48 Hours' and 'Suicide Notebook' were carved up and served on a collection of demos called 'Demolition' which suffered from lack of cohesion. That tends to happen when you are sourcing the collection from 5 different recording sessions.

In a roundabout way, Lost Highway Records have dicked around the fans by releasing the aborted album 'Love Is Hell' in two parts. I guess we can at least be grateful they released it at all. Yet after one listen to Part 1, you have to wonder why the hesitation? Part 1 is a heartfelt collection of introspective tunes that capture Adams in a new light. This isn't Ryan pissing and moaning about some celebrity girl he dumped (despite what the album title suggests), it is an album about the small town struggles ordinary people face. It's as if Springsteen re-recorded 'Darkness on The Edge of Town' in a similar tone to 'Nebraska', with the help of a Thom Yorke or a Jeff Buckley. Strange I know, but it seems to work.

'Political Scientist' opens the set, a vivid tale about poison water supplies from the factories of big business. Adams' pushes the point across, nearly screaming out: 'No Guarantees' like he is channeling the voice of Chris Martin. The wolves of the banks get a serve as well in the tender tune 'This House is Not for Sale'. Ryan ruefully suggests grabbing some sheets and acting like ghosts to scare them away.

The topic of wanting to break free from surrounding trouble crops up in a few tracks, namely 'Afraid Not Scared and the piano ballad 'The Shadowlands' with the latter song dealing with domestic strife. Adams however finally relents and treads the familiar ground of the breakup of a relationship. The utterly gorgeous track 'Avalanche' is the standout of the set, reiterating the Elton John comparisons.

Throw in his thread bare cover of 'Wonderwall' (which fits so well on this album) and 2 bonus tracks in 'Caterwaul' and 'Halloween', and you have a release which begs to be heard. Unfortunately its simultaneouse release with the Record Company approved 'Rock N Roll' album means this will take a backseat to casual observers of Ryan's work. Which is a pity because this album shows how damn talented he is.

Released two weeks later (or longer depending where you reside), Part 2 sees Adams shift his focus away from small towns issues back to the city he loves: New York. Most of this release is centered around the Big Apple and after a few listens, you can't help but think that in hindsight, it somehow made sense to split them up because Part 2 definitely has a different feel to its predecessor.

Though it may lack the immediacy of Part 1, the follow up contains some strong tunes which once again show Adams baring his soul. 'City Rain, City Nights' initially sounds like another wistful ode to the big smoke until it turns into a confession to a past love, most probably the recently departed Carrie Hamilton (who died of cancer in 2002).

Ryan's continuing fascination with British singer Beth Orton (Demolition's 'You Will Always Be The Same' was about her) is extended to 'English Girls Approximately' on which he is helped by another 'English Girl' in Marriane Faithfull. Completing the set, and therefore the entire 'Love Is Hell' experience is 'Hotel Chelsea Nights', a great closer which musically is oddly close to a slowed down version of 'Lay Your Love On Me' by Roachford. Not that Mr Adams could ever be accused of appropriating.

What ends up spoiling the entire thing (and preventing this release of a full 5 bones) is the decision of the two bonus tracks on Part 2. Not only does it take away from the true ending of 'Hotel Chelsea Nights', they sound like offcuts from the 'Rock N Roll' album.

Maybe it is his way of proving he is human after all.