Easy Tiger : Ryan Adams : Review : Rolling Stone

Having failed to die young, disappear at sea or get his body stolen and burned in the Mojave Desert, Ryan Adams had no choice but to make a professional country-rock album. Easy Tiger is Adams at his most consistent and measured, as slick and slow as an old Bread record, even in wasted laments like "Tears of Gold" and "I Taught Myself How to Grow Old." Since he's built his reputation on wild inconsistency, allowing himself inspired whims like Cold Roses, this is a strangely atypical Adams record, just because it's his first typical one. For the only time since Gold, he wants you to notice how hard he worked pulling it all together. The set list feels winnowed down – "Off Broadway" goes back nearly six years. Some of the arrangements could have been even more winnowed down (he tends to equate somber piano with deep feeling). "Two" is a maudlin Sheryl Crow duet (at least it's not Norah Jones again). "Everybody Knows," "These Girls" and "Off Broadway" define his ballad style, but Easy Tiger is actually best when it rocks out, as in "Goodnight Rose" (a Cold Roses-style Dead takeoff) or the garage-rock goof "Halloweenhead."

ROB SHEFFIELD
(RS 1028 - June 13, 2007)

(Posted: Jun 13, 2007)

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Review 1 of 12

5of 5 Stars

1 record of the year

Ryan Adams – Easy Tiger As America's most prolific singer-songwriter/country-folk artist, Ryan Adams has once again triumphed this year with his best collection of songs since 2002's Gold. The record showcases Adams at his finest performance level since his early days in the Alt-country band Whiskeytown. Adams sings his heart out on songs of loss and loneliness in "Tears of Gold" and "The Sun Also Sets", while also taking the time to enjoy his newfound sobriety in "Goodnight Rose" and "I Taught Myself How to Grow Old". In the opening track, Adams uses the metaphor of "Rose", as he has in the past, as a vehicle for the incarnation of his femme drug addiction he now has laid to rest, "Tomorrow is yours, and who knows, maybe we'll win the whole shebang". Now, his brilliance shines far and wide during the 3 minute "Oh My Got Whatever, ect.", in which he is in the next room listening, "Something's beating on the wall, on the other side, Strange lovers moan each others' names, one of theme's James the other's some name she changes every time she lay's across his bed" The haunting guitar featured is reminiscent of the sometimes amazing sometimes awful acoustic shows Adams will not perform any longer. So, why the best album of the year? Well, with Britney back and Fall out Boy selling out arenas across the country, Adams can actually hold his own and make an album of just good songs, even saying it best about in the record, "at least you didn't get a rip off" in the song "Rip Off".

Jan 13, 2008 16:59:10

Review 2 of 12

5of 5 Stars

This is by far the cleanest album from ryan. I think this guy starts to pay more attention to sound quality of an album. I think this album is his best since Love Is Hell. I dont care about who is he trying to be or how is he as a human being, good music is good music. Buy it, worth every cent of my money.

Jan 8, 2008 09:29:19

Review 3 of 12

4of 5 Stars

Graham Parsons, Neil Young, or even the Grateful Dead; weather or not Ryan Adams is actually trying to be one of them is of no consequence. What has been realized in his career by those who know good songwriting is that he has demonstrated that he is a truly gifted artist who is capable of many styles of music. It is clear that to some people it is more fun to bash Adams' vast catalogue (inconsistency and surprise have been his most appealing attributes) than to actually listen to him. When did music become so boring? Easy Tiger is Adams' most focused and well-tailored album to date. His ballads are at their best on Everybody Knows, and Halloweenhead is a kick-ass , yet wonderful reflection on some of his own demons. The Cardinals have proven to complement Adams' writing over the last several albums (29 excluded), elevating it to a level that is greater than the sum of it's parts. Anyone who disagrees should see him live and be proven wrong. And yes, I brought my wife along too.

Aug 7, 2007 12:36:50

Review 4 of 12

Not Rated

Zero stars. This is awful. An artist trying his hardest to sound like 70's country rock and Gram Parsons. Note to Ryan, do not quit your day job. This is painful to listen to, as the artist again changes his style. One thing that can be said, he is no Jeff Tweedy, nor will this bum ever be.

Aug 7, 2007 08:15:47

Review 5 of 12

4of 5 Stars

You learn to excuse a few clunkers on any album but I'll never stop my eyes from rolling on Halloweenhead. Especially after seeing the "music video". Other than that, the only other fault I can find is the rewrite of Hey There Mrs. Lovely, now These Girls. Listen to the original if you can.

Overall the band is amazing and Ryan is able to really sell the songs live.

"...enough pop to let your wife or girlfriend get exposed to something they wouldn't hear on mainstream radio."

Because women only listen to mainstream radio. I was with you until that point. Not sure what you said after.

Jul 20, 2007 11:54:30

Review 6 of 12

1of 5 Stars

Ryan Adams is just soooo over rated it's not true! He can't decide whether he wants to be Gram Parsons, Neil Young or Nashville Dylan.
Will the real Ryan Adams please stand up and find his own voice?

Jul 15, 2007 17:40:45

Review 7 of 12

4of 5 Stars

As a longtime fan of Ryan Adams, I always expect an album
with some unbelievable nuggets of greatness sprinkled in
with some questionable choices and arrangments.

That opinion is wiped away by Mr. Adam's consistancy and
dedication to securing a melody, hitting his message and
getting out in slightly above or under the 3:00 minute mark.

From the opening guitar of 'Goodnight Rose' to the alternate
country feel of Two the mood of the disc is perfect for those
who love Adam's dark side and enough pop to let your wife or
girlfriend get exposed to something they wouldn't hear on
mainstream radio.

Of particular fun are 'Halloweenhead" featuring a "guitar solo"
and "Two" with a restrained and vulnerable Sheryl Crow on
back up vocals; certainly Ryan is no Lance Armstrong. The ba
band is solid and clearly understand their roles; especially
arrangements with piano and pedal steel guitar giving you a
comfort zone on Broadway or South Carolina; or wherever
Ryanwants us to go!

Adam's may finally deliver on the promise he has shown and
bears watching going forward. For now, he still is a great
little secret to share with a select few

Jul 15, 2007 10:14:58

Review 8 of 12

1of 5 Stars

Fuck his new CD. Ryan Adams proved to me tonight
that he is infact a drunken moron. After getting ahold of,
from now what I find extremely hard to belive, a ticket to his
show in Memphis, I went eagerly. Not only did Adams
not pay a damn bit of attention to anyone in the audience, but
his set was merely an hour long. Being a half hour late didn't
seem to phase him at all after he walked off stage with out a
single "thank you", or "goodnight". His selfish and childish
antics really show what a good, humane person he is. Short
story even shorter, Ryan Adams sucks as a human being.
Grow up Adams and please try to act a little enthused to do
what you do!
I should have saved my money for Hinder!

Jul 12, 2007 22:51:32

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