Ryan Adams - Easy Tiger

Ryan Adams moves beyond mimicking others

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. November 3, 2008

Ryan is no good

Just got back from Ryan Adams' Atl, GA concert. He only sang about 8 songs in about 40 minutes. Then he abrubtly left stage saying only that his voice was gone. $50 for 40 minutes is not worth it. He sounded fine while he was on stage. I don't understand why he cut the show short, but it was not worth it and I think everyone should get their money back!!! What a scam! October 18, 2008

What an album

I'm sort of a new Ryan Adams fan and picked this one up after hearing the couple tracks of the Elizabethtown soundtracks. This is a wonderful album... every track. Brilliant songwriting. Nothing's overdone here... its all just right. Nice backup band... all the tracks are 3 mins or less... its just a great album. Great stuff... look forward to more. October 10, 2008

Easy Tiger

Ryan Adams-Easy Tiger *****

Once again back with the great Cardinals, and making the best album of his career...so far. Easy Tiger is pure and simple genius. Brilliance in it's truest and purest musical form. The attitude is still there, the drugs are gone, and the lyrics are twice as honest and haunting making this miles above all his previous work.

Subject matter ranging love and love lost ('Two' 'Everybody Knows' 'Tears Of Gold') to drugs and all around young mischief ('Halloweenhead'). 'Everybody Knows' is among his best recorded, and lyrically 'Tears Of Gold' might be his strongest of all time. 'Oh My God, Whatever, Etc' is nothing short of chilling. Nothing short of genius. 'Pearls On A String' would be typical in someone elses hands but Adams makes it a killer.

Easy Tiger is one of the most breath taking albums of the last twenty years, and really the only one of real importance in the last three. September 8, 2008

Easy Tiger is Ryan Adams at His Best.

After touring with Willie Nelson and Phil Lesh and Friends in 2006, alt-country singer-songwriter Ryan Adams released his ninth album, Easy Tiger, a collection of thirteen emotionally intense songs written during Adams' extended period of alcohol and heroin abuse that ended in 2006. Easy Tiger reveals Ryan Adams at his best as a singer-sonwriter, and gave him the worldwide attention he long deserved. Sheryl Crow contributes backing vocals on the song, "Two," and Rolling Stone ranked "Halloweenhead" among the 50 Best Songs of 2007. The complete Easy Tiger setlist includes:

1. Goodnight Rose 3:20
2. Two 2:38
3. Everybody Knows 2:25
4. Halloweenhead 3:23
5. Oh My God, Whatever, Etc. 2:31 9
6. Tears Of Gold 2:53
7. The Sun Also Sets 4:09
8. Off Broadway 2:31
9. Pearls On A String 2:23
10. Rip Off 3:12
11. Two Hearts 3:03
12. These Girls 2:50
13. I Taught Myself How To Grow Old 3:21

G. Merritt
August 24, 2008

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