Easy Tiger

The title of this review probably sounds like I don't like Ryan Adams -- actually I do. I love albumns like "Gold" and "Cold Roses," songs like Dear John, Come Pick Me Up, etc. But I was always very aware that he was often (hopefully consciously) sounding eriely like the Dead, Graham Parsons, or even Van Morrison (Answering Bell on Gold). The nice thing about Easy Tiger is it seems like Ryan Adams has dropped the mimic routine and is making his own sound. Influences are still there -- Tears of Gold clearly echos Graham Parson's style country -- but they no longer dominate. So if you love the Dead, definitely buy Gold instead of this album. If you love Parsons/Flying Buritto Brothers get a number of earlier tracks. This is something more unique.As fans know, Adam's song writing is typically angst ridden and Easy Tiger is no exception -- probably half the songs have some degree of pain in them. But for those not familar with Adams, he is not one yet another whining primadonnas who seem to dominate the male side of the pop market these days. Adams' angst is more heartfelt and real and doesn't stray into bubble gum land. Not that its depressing -- heartfelt is definitely the word. In terms of the instrumentation, the guy loves pedal steel and uses it to good effect to contribute to songs that seem to swell in tempo and intensity. It's always there if you listen -- but not in a way that turns the album into retro-country (with the exception of the couple of explicitly country tunes). And barring the seemingly out of place "Haloween Head" the albumn flows nicely. If you hate country, you'll probably be forwarding through three songs. But in general this is an album you can listen to in its entirety vs just 2 or 3 "hit" songs.

2005 was a crazy year. It just doesn't seem sane to put out 4 albums (Cold Roses was a double) in 12 months. Some of the material was great but some showed the effects on quality of such a prodigious year. 2007 is the exact opposite. One mid-year album of well written, played, and produced material. Easy Tiger doesn't contain the greatest songs Adams has ever done. You'll find brighter jewels on Gold or Cold Roses. But this is the most consistent, well produced, and well polished album he's ever done. For fans this is great. For the rest of you, give it a try. This isn't a hard rockin' anthem album or a slow twangy county record. It's a well paced and well put together musical journey by one of the best and still most underrated artists in music today. Turn it on in the car or sit back on the couch with a good drink and soak it all in.Here's the track by track breakdown:1. Goodnight Rose: Solid intro. This track exemplifies the merger of styles from Ryan Adams' past into a new unclassified sound.2. Two: This is the best song he's written in quite a while. The experiences, pain, and self-loathing going into this track are evident in every line. The only problem is that at 2:38 it's way too short, which is my main complaint for the whole album!3. Everybody Knows: Great slow tune exploring the emotions of onesided relationships when everyone knows, including you.4. Halloweenhead: This is a nice rockin' tune. I just can't get over the title/chorus. I get what he's saying and it's great symbolism but it just doesn't fit. At least to me.5. Oh My God, Whatever, etc.: Another tune of women, wanting, and whatever. As a romantic at heart I can really appreciate it.6. Tears of Gold: Nice and twangy. Country-haters beware. Music lovers, enjoy.7. The Sun Also Sets: Not as much vocal range on this ablum but this track take's Adams' amazingly dynamic voice in an interesting direction.8. Off Broadway: Not my favorite.9. Pearls on a String: Bluegrass from heaven!10. Rip Off: Another wistful and wanting melody that I could do without.11. Two Hearts: This could have come right off of Love is Hell. A nice heartfelt pop tune.12. These Girls: A great "cold roses-esque sound".13. I Taught Myself How To Grow Old: I love a song that starts out with a good harmonica. Tom Petty, John Mellancamp and Springsteen can all do it well and so can Ryan Adams. This track gives a window into what the last two years toward sobriety have been like. Adams continues to wear his soul on his sleeve.Recommendation: A little something for everyone.

Easy Tiger is a lilting and beautiful country-ish record that solidifies Ryan Adams's position as the premier songwriter of his generation. It is one of his most polished works, which may not seem like good thing (no one ever complained that Exile on Main Street needed more polish); but his newfound sobriety brings with it a maturity and discipline that, believe it or not, he wears well. At 38 minutes, the record seems to end too soon- a welcome respite in the digital age-- and in my book when you want to go back and play the thing all over again, that is generally a very good sign.Meanwhile the Cardinals continue to evolve and solidify as one of the best bands around. Neil Casal's guitar is piercing and articulate; Jon Graboff's pedal steel provides a lot of the feel and color. Every member of the band save for Adams and drummer Brad Pemberton has turned over since Cold Roses (2005), and yet they keep getting better and tighter, as their live shows continue to demonstrate. While the feminine presence of former bassist Catherine Popper is missed in the vocal mix, Chris Feinstein manages to push the Cardinals musical chemistry forward on his first record with the band.The waltzes "Goodnight Rose" and "Tears of Gold" harken back to the country sounds of Jacksonville City Nights; either song would fit seamlessly on that record. "Two," which Adams has been playing live for 18 months, is done as a duet with Sheryl Crow, a Cardinals fan who's voice melds in a pretty way with his. Like a lot of Adams's best songs, this one manages with simple language to capture the pure hurt of love; "It takes two, when it used to take only one...""Halloween Head" is a little anomalous here, done as a punkish garage rocker; what keeps it from being jarring is the insane catchiness of it. "Pearls On a String," yet another beautiful song, contains lines that nicely sum up Adams's prolific output: "Tomorrow's on it's way/ And there's always new songs to sing."Adams and the Cardinals have been touring to support this record as an acoustic 6-piece, with producer Jamie Candiloro on piano and Adams putting his guitar aside (hand trouble.) The acoustic treatment brings out the richness in this material, the timelessness of the compositions. For those of us who grew up with artists like Neil Young, Van Morrison, and the Band, and who still treasure the classic records these artists made, Ryan Adams and the Cardinals are a contemporary treasure.

OH LA LA ! Que non cet album de l'ami Ryan et de ses Cardinals n'est pas moyen C'EST SON CHEF D'OEUVRE. Ses albums précédents étaient un peu trop influencés par le Vieux Neil ; mais là il n'y a rien à jeter tout est au sommet. Un subtil mélange de mélancolie délicate et de tristesse voilée avec quelques pointes d'humour çà et là. Il est évident que les bas-du-front passeront leur chemin...Réussira-t-il à toucher les étoiles une nouvelle fois?

fab

Great