Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
Source	Rating
Metacritic	(76/100)
Review scores
Source	Rating
AbsolutePunk	96%
Allmusic
Entertainment Weekly	B+
The Guardian
Los Angeles Times
Pitchfork	(6.5/10)
PopMatters
Rolling Stone
Slant Magazine
USA Today

Ashes & Fire is the 13th studio album by Ryan Adams, released on October 11, 2011, on PAX AM and Capitol. Recorded with producer Glyn Johns, Ashes & Fire marks Adams' return to recording following the disbandment of his band the Cardinals in 2009. Regarding the album, Adams noted, "The record is obsessed with time. I believe that there is a kinder view of the self. I'm passing through my own life as a ghost, and looking at these pieces and places in my life. I'm looking at California, and the idea of being lost and found at the same time."

On October 16, 2011, the album entered the UK Albums Chart at number 9, making his best position in the UK. In the US, it debuted at number 7, making Ashes & Fire his second top 10 album since Easy Tiger.

The album was preceded by the single "Lucky Now", Adams' first release with Capitol Records.

In January 2009, while touring in support of Cardinology (2008), Adams announced that he was planning to retire from music, due to ongoing problems with Ménière's disease. Posting on his website, Adams wrote: "I am excited to finish this wonderful time I have had with the Cardinals. [...] I am grateful for the time we have had, and maybe someday we will have more stories to tell together. I am, however, ready for quieter times, as I think it is very evident I am struggling with some balance and hearing issues. [...] Maybe we will play again sometime, and maybe I will work my way back into some kind of music situation, but this is the time for me to step back now, to reel it in." At this time, Adams had written a planned studio album, entitled Dear Impossible, which was subsequently abandoned.

The band played their final show on March 20, 2009 at the Fox Theatre in Atlanta and dissolved. Drummer Brad Pemberton noted, "Everyone was a bit fried, so it was the right time to step back for a minute. I encouraged Ryan to go and get married, and have a life and find some peace; the guy hasn’t really slowed down in ten years, and he needed it as much as we did." Adams later commented on the band's break-up, stating "I wasn't being true to myself [anymore]. I loved being in that band with Catherine Popper. [...] She was the key. So when she split [in 2006] it was really difficult for me. We carried on because we had to. I had made a commitment to shows and records but my heart wasn't in it. [...] [the band] actually weren't very nice to me by the end. I don't think we were friends anymore." On December 15, 2009, Cardinals bassist Chris Feinstein was found dead in his New York City apartment.

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