Ryan Adams - Ashes & Fire

He was once prolific—musically and romantically—releasing eight albums in five years and dating a procession of girlfriends, from Winona Ryder and Parker Posey to Alanis Morissette. Then Adams married actress-singer Mandy Moore in 2009 and took a break from music. Clearly, the change has done him good. Now back with his 13^th studio album, the alternative country star sounds positively inspired, with stellar songs like the shuffling, Dylan-like title track and such Norah Jones-accompanied gems as “Kindness.”