Easy Tiger - Dark Publications

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Editorial Reviews:

Amazon.com
Easy Tiger, Ryan Adams's ninth solo studio album, is a return to form in every way. He's already shown that he can bash out three albums in one year--not to mention the hilarious fake hip-hop records posted for free on his Web site--and that he can sound as much like the Grateful Dead as he wants to in his constant subsequent touring. Backed once again by the Cardinals, Adams synthesizes and refines his approach to smooth, gorgeous country-pop. "Tears of Gold" is one of the best songs he's written in ages, while "Two" is a slowly percolating, sweet little number that recalls Sean Hayes in its soulful folksiness (someone named Sheryl Crow accompanies Adams on vocals). One of the greatest treats of this languorous, twangy album is the subtle ways that genre gets played with. "I Taught Myself How to Grow Old" is the best Harvest outtake Neil Young never wrote, while the treated, synth-sounding guitar solo on the druggy, chooglin' "Halloweenhead" sounds like it comes straight out of Journey. And "The Sun Also Sets" sounds more than a little like Rufus Wainwright covering Fred McDowell's "Write Me a Few of Your Lines." It bursts with enough melodrama as to border on musical theater. But, as is clear on these songs of love and loss, Adams has always been at his best when giving into his most mellow, dramatic side. --Mike McGonigal

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Album Description
I think there are really only two kinds of pop music CDs these days. There are the ones you listen to only once or twice, maybe downloading the single good song to your iPod or computer; then there are others that grow stronger, sweeter, and more necessary each time you play them. Gold was that way; Cold Roses was that way; so was Jacksonville City Nights. I won't say Adams is the best North American singer-songwriter since Neil Young...but I won't say he isn't, either. What I know is there has never been a Ryan Adams record quite as strong and together as Easy Tiger; it's got enough blue-eyed, blue-steel soul (with the faintest country tinge) to make me think of both Marvin Gaye and the Righteous Brothers. Probably ridiculous, but true. And the songs themselves are beautiful--the lyrics tightly focused and brief, the feeling one of melancholy calm that will probably be a revelation to fans that remember the old, sometimes angry Ryan Adams.

Now there's this, maybe the best Ryan Adams CD ever. And I know you want to listen to it right away. But slow down. Take your time. This album asks for that, and it will reward your full attention.

In other words--easy, Tiger.

--Stephen King

Album Description
Limited International two CD 'Tour Edition' of Adams' 2007 release features the seven track Follow The Lights CD EP added as a bonus disc. Ryan Adams agrees that the tone of Easy Tiger, his ninth album, is different, not dark, just different, and suggests in passing that it may have something to do with both sobering up and growing up (he's 32). The album includes the the first single 'Two' (featuring Sheryl Crow on backing vocals), the upbeat 'Halloween Head' and beautiful 'The Sun Also Sets'. The 2007 EP contains seven tracks including two previously unreleased recordings ('Follow The Light' and 'My Love Is Real') featured in the ABC-TV drama October Road plus five tracks recorded live in the studio. Universal.

Album Details
2007 Japanese Edition of Adams' First Post-rehab Album Includes Two Bonus Tracks that Do Not Appear on the Us Equivalent: "Nobody Listens to Silence" and "Alice".

Customer Reviews: Read 90 more reviews...

5 out of 5 stars

Tomorrow's on it's way, and there's always new songs to sing June 29, 2007
22 out of 24 found this review helpful

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.

5 out of 5 stars

Return to Form? June 27, 2007
7 out of 10 found this review helpful

Everyone's hailing this as Ryan's return to form...I would argue that he never left. It's no secret that he goes to bat a lot...he's bound to hit it out of the park once in a while. In my opinion, though...exploring his muse is something that you can't put a price on. It should be obvious to the casual fan that this is the album that the label called for...not the one he wanted to make. However...his voice and sincerity show through on every track. I'm just not sure the man can write a "bad" song. His melodic talent is on full display here...the only sidestep is "Halloween Head"...a track that would fit well on "Rock and Roll," but whose inclusion here feels either like a compromise with the the label..or just a silly misstep on album full of great tuens. Personal faves include "Oh My God, Whatever, Etc." and the lovely "Two" and "Everybody Knows." Ryan knows what he's doing...just step back and enjoy an artist at his peak.

5 out of 5 stars

Damned If He Does, Damned If He Doesn't... June 27, 2007
7 out of 8 found this review helpful

Adams catches grief no matter what he does. The same people who chastise him for being too odd, erratic and/or unpredictable will slam him the next time around for playing it safe and/or being too mainstream. Thankfully, the man just writes and records what's in his heart.

EASY TIGER is clearly Ryan's most impressive work to date. I never thought he'd top LOVE IS HELL (Parts 1 & 2), but he's really done it this time. The songs are amazingly well-crafted and his voice is in great form.

Highlights for me are TWO, EVERYBODY KNOWS, RIP OFF, PEARLS ON A STRING and THESE GIRLS. To be honest, there's not a bad track on the disc. Sure, HALLOWEEN HEAD is a bit weird - but it's so damn catchy and well-written, you can't help but catch the hook.

There is something for everybody here - lush productions, sparse piano and voice, bluegrass-flavored acoustic guitar and nice harmonies. Taken as a whole, it's a release that will take a long time to find it's way out of your CD player or off of your iPod playlist.

Highly recommended.

1 out of 5 stars

Falls WAY SHORT of his classics June 26, 2007
6 out of 69 found this review helpful

There is NOTHING on here as catchy as his older classics like "Heaven" or "Everything I Do I Do It For You."

My favorite thing he did was on the MTV Christmas Special when he kept singing, "We're gonna have an Amon Christmas."

This time cuts like a knife straight from the heart. The production reminds me of the albums that came out in the summer of 69...dry and earthy, but nothing really catchy.

He must have a good plastic surgeon though, he looks so young!

5 out of 5 stars

Good, Good - Good June 27, 2007
6 out of 7 found this review helpful

First off, I'm giving this 5 stars to bring the rating up after the Bryan Adams jackass gave it 1 star.
I think it deserves 4/4.5.

This is a very GOOD album.
Is it his best? In my opinion, no.
But who cares?...it's another strong album, as expected.

I'm more of a Whiskeytown/Heartbreaker/Jacksonville fan of Ryan's, so I'm happy with the folky, "alt-country" songs like "Oh My God...", "Pearls on a String" and "These Girls."

I must have listened to "Pearls on a String" 20 times by now.

Rockers like "Goodnight Rose", "Everybody Knows" and "Rip Off" echo the Cold Roses album, which was his strongest album in years.

The problem is, when I don't like a Ryan Adams song, I absolutely HATE it.
This album has a couple that I hate and then maybe 2 more that I already started skipping over (but that usually changes with time).

I was also hoping for some "jammier" versions of certain songs and was very surprised to see that 12 of the 13 songs are under 4 minutes long.

Bottom line, just like with Cold Roses, this album has a little bit of everything for the varied fanbase of Ryan's.

Buy it, listen to it and keep wonderin how the hell he makes gold year after year.

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