The prolific author, Oasis fan and Courtney Love lover Ryan Adams is rarely far from our thoughts. The fact that the man is so open and free about his goings on, it can be hard to remember the talent that rests on the other side of this or that squabble. Ryan has skills, yes, but is his tenth album Cardinology more of Easy Tiger‘s maybe too easy MOR, or did he amp and rough it up some? Well, Boston, you’ll recognize a few Cardinology tracks right off the bat: “Sink Ships,” very pretty “Cobwebs,” “Fix It,” and others he’s performed on recent tours are here. (“Fix It,” the first Cardinology single is elsewhere, too.) You’ll also get another listen to “Crossed Out Name.” Of course, context is important.
Super fans (or astute Internet users) likely also heard demos for “Born Into A Light,” “Like Yesterday,” “Magick,” and “Evergreen” when Ryan was upping them to Youtube. And others when Ryan posted them to his blog. The pre-Cardinology Ryan’s press corps promised the record would be “concise,” “focused,” and “unadorned.” All true. It’s no Cold Roses. That said, there’s enough dust (and some minor rambles), saving it from the aforementioned Easy-like polish. You get a number of different Adams angles: The gentle down-homey “Like Yesterday” (and its soulful backup harmonies), the twangy and gentle “Evergreen” (somehow reminding us of Leon Redbone, of all people), the slinkier “Fix It” (and its almost U2 moments — ditto “Go Easy” on the Bono thing), etc.
Even though “Magick” tells us to turn the radio up (and “Go Easy” has a stronger Adams’ bellow in its power ballad moments) on the whole it’s a quieter affair. Actually, maybe that’s just because the best songs are the hushed ones — even when they have some uplift like “Cobwebs” — and they end up sticking in the mind. Cardinology also closes with its most spare moment, “Stop,” five minutes of Closing Time piano plus strings and Ryan’s voice in a fragile, higher register. It’s a kind of lament filled with religious imagery and moving to worries about the future, a visit to an ad hoc psychiatrist (i.e. the singer/songwriter and Cardinologist Ryan Adams), and a repeated whisper to “stop” (the last word on the record).
These dozen songs aren’t necessarily mind-blowing, but they offer a solid collection with a few standouts (“Cobwebs,” especially). It should be enough to satisfy longtime fans and, as mentioned back at the beginning, show folks more familiar with Ryan’s hijinx than his music that he’s worth our attention.
Cardinology is out 10/28 via Lost Highway. Ryan’s book Infinity Blues is out 3/16/09.
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i like that you took the time to actually discuss the songs, but just out of morbid curiosity… at what point do you stop considering yourself a journalist and start in with the tabloid writing? i mean, when your VERY FIRST SENTENCE mentions courtney love… you’re not really setting yourself up to really talk about music, are you? you’re talking about people. and on some level, yes, it is impossible to detach the artist from the art. on another, though, you have to have some level of detachment. because music, when its at its very best, is what YOU take out of it. it hits a nerve that tells you… yes, that makes sense. that helps me understand what i’m feeling. and a lot of these songs do that for me.
i also think you completely missed out on the fact that these songs have a much fuller sound then past adams’ track; the other four members of the band add a lot.
Relax Jacko– all news sources (particularly blogs, since it allows them to link to previous articles) tend to touch on recent events in the lede of the article. It gives context and draws people in.
I think this review is spot on– the first four songs made me think this was going to be Easy Tiger II (the quote about easy MOR is spot on), but the second half of the album really surprised me.
The funny thing is that as much as we gave RA shit for putting out 3 albums a year a while back, the quality has not increased as the quantity decreased.
I need some more time with this one, but this is a step in the right direction– I was REALLY worried after Easy Tiger.
And as much as the guy above is a reactionary idiot, I definitely agree that the other Cardinals are really on top of their game here.
ok, maybe i was. i still don’t see how that has anything to do with the album, but to each their own. contrary to your opinion, i am aware of how these crazy things called “links” work. i just think its shoddy journalism.
but that aside… what specifically did you like/not like about specific tunes? if i’m going to be a reactionary idiot, maybe i can learn from you.
I don’t understand what the big deal is with putting out three albums in a year. I loved Cold Roses and Jacksonville City Nights. 29 was another story, although most of those tunes were damn good as well. I just can’t listen to an entire album of slow songs. Easy Tiger was a great album. There were a couple of songs I’d rather see as b-sides than on the final cut, but it was a quality offering. This guy cleans himself up and continues to put out very good material. How many other bands or artists can you say that about. Most are dead before they even get that chance. I’ve got alot of RA material from demo tapes and bootlegs. I know there is a shit load more available. I’m waiting for a box set of b-sides ala Pearl Jam’s Lost Dogs record.
oh hey ryan!
I like Easy Tiger, but that was as far in that direction as I could take. I am so relieved to hear that Cardinology doesn’t suck. I absolutely cannot wait for this album.
Relax Jacko– most music journalists mention recent events in the lede of their reviews.
It gives people context and draws non-superfans into the article— not to mention that it lets blogs link to other relevant/recent posts.
Well, crap– I certainly screwed that up.
“Stop” is about addiction and the way out of it. Totally beautiful song, someone reaching out from their own experience. Mind you, his songs are often able to support a lot of ambiguity and more than one meaning so sure, in a larger sense it’s about the future or moving on, or whatever you want to put in there, but addiction is one very strong thread and I would have hoped the reviewer might have paid a little closer attention to the words. But, on the whole, good review.
the songs on easy tiger were great but the production on that album sucked. i was stunned when i saw him live how good the songs sounded despite my preconcieved notion that they were shitty from hearing the record. I’m pumped to hear this album though! I don’t really know his music well but Jacksonville City Nights is a classic imo.
Jacksonville City Nights really is a classic.
I think you’re giving this album too much credit commenters (well, and stereogum). Just because it’s better than Easy Tiger, which i don’t agree with in the first place, doesn’t mean that its a good album, and a good Ryan Adams album at that. Please try and tell me how you listen to these lyrics without laughing? Applicants and Positions and Shredding of Applications? Magik???? just repeating, “what comes around goes around” ???. Where is the Ryan Adams songwriting that had been on albums before Easy Tiger. And I understand this is more like a ‘rock n roll’ fun album, but if you’re going by that standard, Rock n Roll, with “this is it” and “wish you were here” and “anybody want to take me home”, trump this record. I’m sorry i’m just not hearing the same record you guys are. This is no step in the right direction in my opinion, its some poor side-street or alley, that he needs to back out from. That being said, I love the guy and am glad to have some more music from him, and am happy to keep a couple of tracks in rotation. I was just saying, lets not get carried away here.
forgive me in advance, because my opinion may be tainted a bit, see…Ryan cancelled the show i had tickets for last week and has yet to provide word on a reschedule. considering the last date of this leg of his tour is tonite, and then he has 20 or so days off, but has yet to resched has us a bit perturbed. and yes, the venue is open with a multitude of dates, that and he cancelled a show at the same venue last year, and has cancelled 4 out of 5 shows with that promoter. refunds? nope, because the official word is postponement, and no refunds for postponement.
anyway, Cardinology just isnt that good. and i really wish it was, because ive been a big fan for a long time. and a relatively positive evaluation from stereogum? 4 stars from rolling stone? really? a cursory first listen provides the listener with more easy tigerish acousticly generic cuntry rock with middling to flat out embarrassing lyrics. i guess its the right ryan adams record for some people-the type who like fleetwood mac and when the stars go blue. me, i prefer when ryan takes chances. ill take cold roses, or love is hell any day to this. sorry, thats just my two cents. thanks for reading.
Why is Ryan trying to be Bono? Why?
Like a few of the more recent commenters, I too think this Premature Evaluation is overly generous. This is Ryan’s “dad-rock” side on auto-pilot and coasting. Aside from “Cobwebs”, nothing else here makes any real or last impression. Well, besides “Magick”, which is one of the worst songs Ryan has ever put on record. He should be ashamed of those lyrics: “Turn the radio up and get down”, “Zombies runnin’ all around”, etc. At least the stinker that was “Halloween Head” had a sense of humor.
To be fair, most of the record is pleasant and moderately enjoyable. But, just because it never grates (with the exception of “Magick”) the way Rock N Roll sometimes did, it does not mean the material here feels any less under-written or tossed-off. Even the most staunch RnR critic would admit that it was an at least an interesting trainwreck. This album feels boring and safe. Due to it’s subpar (for Ryan) songwriting and obvious lack of any real creative fire or intensity, Cardinology ranks among the very worst of his career.
Really? I actually think Cardinology is actually one of ryan adams best records. The riffs and jams and whole vibe seems really organic to me. All of his records seem get a mixed response from critics and fans alike, but the reality is they are ALL pretty good. if he put out 8 records in a row that all sounded like heartbreaker, we would all be bored to death by now. Im glad he always moves on. I actually think all of the cardinals albums are actually his most ORIGINAL sounding records. As great as his other records are, you can point to some obvious influences. But I think the current Cardinals band sound is amazing. They understand craftsmanship and how to create atmosphere and jam out without going overboard. I think this record will appeal to anyone who digs his live show.
Yeah, “Magick” has Weezer-like lyrics, and i’m not talking about good, old Weezer. In fact I feel like Ryan has a similar situation as Weezer. He put things out from his heart and like Weezer’s “Pinkerton,” he was criticized harshly for not living up to “Heartbreaker.” Now with “Easy Tiger” he listened to what people said and made a safe, polished record which had much more straightforward lyrics.
Now don’t get me wrong, these songs are good, and work well in his live sets, but the record itself is almost like a groundwork for those live songs. It doesn’t stand quite as strongly on its own. “Cardinology” sounds like a step in the right direction , making a slightly more consistant record, but listening to the first three songs, I hear 2 minutes of unfinished songs that could and should be fleshed out a little more. The second half of the record is MUCH stronger though.
I just hope he doesn’t keep playing it safe. He’s Ryan Adams, not Jack Johnson, Jason Mraz or new Weezer. It’s not bad, it’s just really disappointing and hard to get used to when looking back at his previous work.
this record goes way beyond, my favorite record by far.. you can really feel this record, like listening to albums from back in the days.
i love it. i think it’s beautiful.
i can understand why people don’t really like ryan adams or this album. but i fucking love him. and the cardinals. i love sad dracula and warren peace and cold roses and pneumonia and foggy and love is hell and “this is not a videoblog”. and every single thing he creates.
yes, i am a fanboy – but i am a fanboy for a reason.
i can still see his work outside of that lens, though. and that is why i understand why people don’t like him. but i just feel sorry for them because the cardinals are the most fun band to be a fan of. i just can’t get enough.
btw, ryan, i just listened to 29 on my way home from work tonight and “voices” is terribly beautiful. it makes me hurt – thank you.
oh, and magick is awesome.
Seth, I’m in the same boat as you. I just can’t get enough of the Cardinals…I love these guys. One of the things I love so much about Ryan’s writing is that you KNOW that it comes from such a genuine place, a place that is so real and is relevant to his life at the time. I think this is why he has so many hardcore fans. They’re/We’re the ones that get it. That said, I think it is most unfair to compare this record to his old ones and say that “it doesn’t sound the same as (insert record title of your choosing here)” It’s because he’s changed (and thank goodness for that). He isn’t the same boozed-up kid that he was when he wrote Heartbreaker or JCN or CR or 29. He’s in a different place now, and that’s where his writing is going. Don’t boo him off the stage like you did for Dylan.
Also, he’s not a solo artist anymore. I think he’s made that more than clear. The Cardinals have their own sound. It’s not the Ryan Adams Show anymore, people need to quit trying to project that on them. If you want that back, get in your time machine and go back to 2001 (p.s. if you’re going, can I go with? I really want to see some of those solo acoustic shows. thanks.).
yes, thank you. that is very important for anyone to remember, especially fans. he is part of a band now – where the others’ input matters just as much as his own. sure, he writes the initial structure and lyrics, but the cardinals take it where they want it.
Cardinals all mad f-n geniuses. Sorta indisputable, a la Prince & Mozart. Too much chitty chat here. Only question, how much is too much to spend for NYC best sounding Halloween?
anyone who claims Easy Tiger didn’t have great lyrics must not have listened to The Sun Also Sets, for one thing. besides, a record is a mixture of lyrics and melody, and most artists these days have little of either. the cardinals as a whole are a glorious amalgam of musicians, equally adding to the band in the long run. simply their cohesiveness, as well as admiration for and complimentation of, each others’ talents, makes them superb. screw all the doubters. you all need to go see a show.
ryans fans sure are a mixed and opinionated bunch.some say he will never equal heart breaker, others say gold is the best-blah blah blah. i personally love easy tiger the most.
i think it all says a lot about the man and the body of work he has given us. cardinology really showcases the chemistry within the band and all the touring has paid off. one should give it more than one spin before deciding it took me 6 or 7 and now i get all the subtleties and it really is great….
yes, yeager – this one is definitely a grower.
also, ryan adams’ work is going to make fans somewhat divisive, simply because of the sheer amount on top of his attention deficit disorder. sometimes he puts stuff out that feels like a punch in the face. rock n roll felt like that at first, before i realized that he wasn’t writing that record for me.
he loves his fans and wants them to enjoy his music, but he’s not going to cater to everyone. he creates what he wants to – and now, what the cardinals want to. all i have to do is rock with.
Am I the only one who doesn’t have this album yet?
Come on guys, this is easily Ryan’s worst. Easy Tiger suffered from production a bit but the songs were mostly very solid. I’ve always felt Rock N’ Roll was an incredibly underrated album. I wish some of these songs could be replaced with something as “tossed off” as ‘Anybody Want To Take Me Home?’ or ‘Luminol’. I’m not saying there aren’t good songs on this (‘Cobwebs’, ‘Crossed-Out Name’ remind me of everything I love about the guy) but the album is a letdown in just about every other way. Even RA’s voice sounds off (how strange is that – the guy seems to only get better live).
And, as for his being part of The Cardinals – you’re only fooling yourself if you think RA doesn’t carry that load big time. They’re a nice backing band but I’m not going to blame this direction he’s being moving towards the past few albums on those guys at all really. Sure, they may not be prompting him to bring the rock (‘Magick’ is not bringing the rock ,it’s bringing the shlock) but that has to be as far as that goes. At this point, I’d be ecstatic if he even put something as wild as Sad Dracula – Fasterpiece up on the net just as a sign of life.
I’m still on board, and I probably always will be because that’s how talented this guy is – but I’m not going to kid myself about this new one.
I love how the nay sayers love to dump on songs like “magick” and “halloween head” and critique the lyrics. It’s kind of like going into a mexican restaurant and compliaining that there’s no chinese food on the menu.
They are SUPPOSED to be dumb fun rockers. Its not that big of deal. its just one song on an album. There only like 600 other Ryan Adams songs
Okay, I realize “Halloweenhead” and “Magick” are supposed to be “dumb and fun rockers.” They just feel out of place and that’s a legitimate criticism.
If Scorsese had put a ridiculously funny scene in “Raging Bull” it would be jarring and distracting. Even if I think it’s the funniest thing I’ve ever seen, I think it’s completely reasonable to say, “Okay, funny scene, but why was it there?”
Oddly enough “Magick” was the only song one of my friends, another Ryan fan, really liked.
Also, I would like to clarify that I like every Ryan Adams album. I love “Easy Tiger” and “Cardinology,” but there’s just two things I’m worried about when I hear them. One, being those songs are about 50 times better live, and I don’t think the greatness is captured in the way they’re mixed (but please remember that I still like them before you criticize me). Two, they’re the most consistent sounding back to back records in his career. Nothing wrong with this, but part of what makes Ryan great is his experimentation and I just hope that he continues to change his style of music. Someone said that those criticizing Ryan are mad because he’s changing, but that’s not it at all. I think we’re worried about the exact opposite happening. I’m still a fan though and will continue to listen and support the group.
You brought up some good points bucky, I too wish he would just record the balls to the wall rock live show sound, although I do think Cardinology is his most Iive sounding record. I personally would like another really dark rock record.
I find it funny that when Cold Roses, JCN, and 29 came out, everybody bitched that he put out THREE records in one year. I was more like ” Awesome. He’s putting out THREE records!” Then many agreed that he should of condensed it into one records. Then he basically has done that with Easy Tiger and now cardinology, and people bitch that its not experimental enough. WTF!!? Its like the guy cant win.
I never understood why someone would complain about releasing multiple albums. Dylan, The Beatles, the stones all put out more than one album in a year. Why should a fan have to wait 3 years between new music from a band, especially if they artist wants to experiment make lots of differenrt. music.
Its like people feel every new album he puts out has to be the Second Coming, and meet all of their wishes, and they get dissappointed when its not. But what ever he does is still usually way better than most commonly heard music. Im personally glad he casts a wide net. Cardinology may not be perfect, but I actually think its more interesting than his old heartbreaker sound. And Im sure he’ll probably put out 2 new albums out next year that sound completely different, and people will still complain about the way they sound too.
Yeah, Kyle, I understand that and I think most others do. But these aren’t even very good as far as “dumb fun rockers” go. Give me Eagles of Death Metal – at least it’s strut feels real. These songs just suck.
i honestly don’t understand how anyone can dump on RA for putting out JCN, CR, and 29 in one year. THREE of my favorite records, period. JCN for its country side, CR for its jamminess, and while 29 took some time to grow on me, it has some beautiful pieces of storytelling. why does anyone care if he puts out one or three albums in a year? it’s his music, his life, and we’re just lucky to be living in it. ROCK ON RYAN.
Ryan is making me sad. He’s not old enough to be playing this mellow dad-rock, and for someone who cites everyone from X to Black Flag to Gram Parsons as influences… Why not release that complete cover of The Strokes’ first album that you made? Live, Ryan is one of the most enthralling performers I’ve ever seen, but he keeps churning out tepid albums. Venti fail.
What is with this complaint also that Cardinology is “mellow dad rock” ? Have they listened to Ryan Adams at all? He IS mellow rock!
Don’t fear worried ryan adams fans! Gold was WAY MORE “dad rock” than Cardinology. Cardinology is fantastic. its also a grower record that gets better with every listen.
I like the album but wish it was more. 10 out of the 12 songs are less than 4 minutes, most of them by quite a bit. I thought he said this album was going to convey the “live cardinal experience”, but it doesn’t. The songs aren’t really radio-material so I don’t see why they’re so brief.
you all seriously think that this is good? like good good? my roommate is a huge RA fan and honestly most of his stuff bores me to death. I went to a few of his shows with my roomie here in austin and was bored outta my mind. (granted, i do wonder if i could listen to any performer standing for 3 1/2 hrs, esp. when they do the same setlist twice thru in vaguely different styles)
I laughed out loud when i heard this record. My roomie says he is embarrassed of this album, and he is obsessed with ALL of RA’s other works. (11 posters, 6 tshirts, and counting…..)
Ryan Adams is one of the most boring artist i’ve ever listen to. He packs up his laconic music with a great image, a cool looking band and sense of “i’m a crazy rock and roll guy” but god he really just has trouble making good memorable albums/songs. Nothing sticks and his prolific songwriting abilities of putting out 2 records a year pretty much makes each previous record obsolete. I just think that a lot of music fans like the idea of Ryan Adams and the Cardinals (worst backing band ever????) but not really his actual music.
You must be joking. The Cardinals the worst backing band…Ryan Adams and The Cardinals are just awesome musicians. They are the musician’s musician. Let me guess you listen to commerical radio…and if he is so boring to you why the f%& are you even posting on here? why not go look up some bad mainstream band that you find interesting instead of posting your negetive energy here.
He’s just realllllllly boring and the Cardinals are pretty much interchangeable because nothing they’ve done has any original stamp. It’s like they’re just trying to sound like a million other artists. I guess that would make them a great bar band. And other artists does not mean by default “Commerical Radio Artists”. Why is that always the excuse if somebody does not like a band????? It’s always, “Oh you dont like So & So???? That’s just cause you like commercial bands! You dont even know!” I love it.
blah blah blah whine whine whine…BAR BAND (let me guess you think McCain would make a great President too) THEY DO have a unique sound…are we even talking ’bout the same band…I’m thinking we are not…and as for the word BORING to describe Ryan Adams, well you might want to check out the definition of that word…try Merriam Webster she is usually pretty right on.
Wait, you’re trying to say that Ryan Adams’ picked the Cardinals because they “look cool?” Have you seen them? They’re a bunch of badly dressed, homely, middle aged guys who happen to play amazing music. Looks clearly had nothing to do with it.
As for your claim that RA fans just like the idea of him… I have 15.4 hours of Ryan Adams music. I don’t think that I have gone more than a week without listening to one of his albums in over a year. Trust me, I like his music, not the idea of him.
After Heartbreaker, Love is Hell and Easy Tiger are my favorite Ryan Adams records. I don’t like JCN or Cold Roses at all. So there are RA fans that respond to each release differently. Roses is supposed to be a classic and I can’t STAND it.
That being said, Fix It sounds great and I’m waiting til release day to hear the rest. You may hate some of these songs/lps now, but wait ten years – you’ll be glad to have the wealth of material. Think “Why don’t we do it in the road” – awful now, worse in 68. But are you glad you have an extra Beatles track?
You bet.
as much as i respect what you are saying here, i am so sorry that you dislike cold roses. like, i feel sorry. for you.
Why Don’t We Do It In the Road is a classic. Not only is it the epitome of “I don’t really give a fuck what we put on this record” but it’s also a quality bluesy recording. Best toss-off ever.
I may be the only other person not to here this record. But I do dig Fix It and Crossed out Name, the 2 jams I have heard from Cardinology.
I think most the “Artists” we fawn over on this site would kill to have a career like Ryan/Cardinals…
Point is, Cold Roses, Jacksonville City Nights, Heartbreaker, Whiskeytown, Etc. Etc.
He/Cardinals keep on kickin out the jams.
What the hell does McCain have to do with anything???? It’s like the commercial artist swipe. If you say that you dont like somebodies favorite artist it apparently means that i must only like crappy commercial radio bands and John McCain. How the hell does that make any sense. I mean i’m not just ripping Ryan Adams for no reason i just havent heard any thing from him that impressed me out and maybe i’ve just missed his good stuff or something. Any suggestions???? (and dont say Cold Roses, Gold, Love is Hell or 29 cause thats been a majority of what i’ve heard) As for his “cool” band, I meant that when i saw a live performance they just had this whole look like they were just too cool for anything, i guess thats just petty.
you kind of do get the idea this guy ba lives exactly 3 doors down from nickelback
To each his own. I’m a huge Ryan Adams fan and think the Cardinals are talented musicians. But, from what I’ve heard of it, this album lacks the depth of his solo outings. I would like to think that it was intentional, to make a radio friendly album of singles, which is what this sounds like. Unfortunately, it may be Ryan simply trying to get along with his record label and get this last album on his contract out of the way so he can focus on doing what he really wants to do from here on out. I dunno. Maybe not. Maybe this is the best they can do. If so, a lot of it is forgettable pop music. Catchy, but ultimately disposable. I would have preferred a disc reflecting their live shows and the extended jams. Ryan talked about this being a double album reflecting their live sound (to be called Cardinals III / IV), which like the Dead, surpassed their recordings.
listening to ryan is like coming home for me – and, i suspect, other fans as well. i can go out and totally dig of montreal or deerhunter or panda bear… you know, good art. but ryan is the one i want to hang above my fucking fireplace.
why the ugly outer glow and the poor use of typography.
I’ll be going to and actual record store and getting this the day it comes out. Ryan Adams is the best songwriter alive today.
Whoa, did Bruce Springsteen, Bob Dylan, Leonard Cohen, Paul McCartney, and about a hundred other people just die, and you’re the only one who knows about it?
^^^he obviously said that meaning best songwriter alive today in teh sense that his work is the best songwriting out of the current output. not like someone who wrote a song in the 60s and happens to be alive.
You folks are missing the best part of the album. Leah Hayes did some superb illustrations on the vinyl pre-order. Now that is the best part if you ask a fellow Victim.
I have been listening to Ryan for a long time. I saw Whiskeytown over a dozen times, and seen some of his first solo shows. I can’t say I dislike any of his albums, it is just that when you start out with an album like Faithless Street, and you start your solo career with Heartbreaker, it really sets the bar high, and makes everything you do after it a comparison to what you used to be.
Cardinology is not his best work. Not by far. But it is still better than most of the new music I hear right now.
Ryan has thrown away better records than most of the crap that is released today. Suicide Handbook? Destroyer Sessions? That is killer stuff.
I have a feeling that Cardinology is one of those albums I will like a lot more down the road. I hated Rock N’ Roll at first, and even disliked Love Is Hell at first. The more I listened to them (especially after hearing some of the tunes live with the cardinals), the more I enjoyed them.
Just curious as to exactly what everyone expected from this album? I don’t recall it being built up as a classic or anything like that. I’ve listened to it all the way thru four times and I find a solid effort. Agree with those about Magick. Out of place and silly lyrics.
Thing is, Cardinals do such incredible live shows, we all want that captured in studio efforts. To wit, I saw them in Tuscaloosa last week. Fantastic show. Opened with “Born into a Light.” The song just blew me away. Then I hear it on Cardinology and I’m like WTF was that? Why not just plug up the Strat and rock the hell out of it on the album?
This album gets better with time–keep listening–have faith. No, it’s not as obvious, nor as stunningly brilliant as some of Ryan’s work–but it’s damn good (period). The production is just top notch–the arrangements are terrific too—very basic in many respects–but that’s ok. As for the songs themselves…this is where Ryan is at right now. Yes, it does remind me of Easy Tiger–but should that really be so surprising? It’s the same band–and not too much farther down the road. I like The Cardinals–a lot. They are just a great rock band, again–simple. People are just expecting too much. This is the record i would expect Ryan to make—and then some. Keep listening. These songs will get under your skin—and into your head. And you won’t be able to do much about it. Because they are catchy—and the sounds are pleasing. I don’t necessarily think that this album contains Ryan’s best songs—but a few of them are really cool (Sink Ships, Cobwebs, among others). I like it. Very definitive-sounding Cardinals record. This is simply what the band is about—take it or leave it.
Ryan you are a huge inspiration, we hope to jam sometime soon, you have the coolest fans, hoping they might dig our sound, it’s hard doing this w/out a label..
http://www.myspace.com/lofiradiostars
Easy Tiger was better and so was the Follow the Lights E.P. Everyone knows his slower songs are better
Despite the many disagreements over the integrity of this album as a whole, the arguments over ?Cardinology? certainly shouldn?t be based on the merits of the record from a standpoint of musicianship. The songs are well-written for what they are, at least? though some lyrics are admittedly questionable (?Magick? with its monotonous chorus and zombie references, for example). “Cardinology” seems much more based on a listeners fundamental musical interests this time around, as opposed to the tracks ?Easy Tiger? served up which felt relatively easy to fall into for listeners with varying musical backgrounds. The aforementioned being a great ?warm-up? album to give to novice Ryan Adams listener. If I was to ask someone who’s tastes leaned more in the direction of The Grateful Dead or even The Pixies they?d likely applaud this latest Cardinals offering. But for many who saw Ryan’s burgeoning friendship and collaborations with Phil Lesh as a negative harbinger of things to come, “Cardinology” appears to be another ‘moment in time’ record for Ryan. Something that in his timeline of releases fans will look back on and observe as a peculiar hiccup. Again, this is simply my humble opinion.
Though there are flashes of genius peppered throughout the record they are few and far between. I?ve listened to the album six or seven times over the past month and I just can?t fall in love with it like I?ve been able to with past RA efforts. ?Fix It? is a strong single and a great addition to live sets, but tracks like the shuffling ?Evergreen? may polarize newer fans still reeling from the outstanding lyricism present on ?Easy Tiger? and ?Cold Roses?. I?m also surprised to read so many comments denouncing Ryan?s efforts with ?Easy Tiger? and even more shocked to see people tearing down the recording quality. I was very impressed with the production of that record and thought some of the acoustic tracks like ?Pearls On A String? and ?Oh My God, Whatever, Etc.? delivered the sentiment and feel of a live performance perfectly. I?d still like to see him enter the studio with John Porter again sometime in the near future, but perhaps that?s just the rabid Smiths fan in me.
I honestly was hoping for more with ?Cardinology? but many die-hard Ryan Adams fans need to realize that he?s changed a substantial amount from the days of ?Gold? and ?Heartbreaker?. Accepting that will make the transition into the newer Cardinals material much smoother. I?m still steadfast in my beliefs that some of Ryan?s best work goes unheard by many of his casual listeners. Old tracks like ?Walls?, ?Dear Anne?, ?Cry On Demand? and ?Oh Angelina? are still worthy of appearances on any future full length release. Though the odds of that happening are unlikely the chances did seem to improve when Ryan dusted off ?My Love For You Is Real? for the Follow The Lights EP. That track is well over five or six years old.
You have to take Ryan?s work for what it is. Impulsive, raw and emotionally driven. You can?t argue that the mindset that he works under now has a detrimental effect on his songwriting because, in many ways, it?s the same mindset he?s had since he left Whiskeytown.
What sorta sucks about Ryan Adams, asides from his constant NYC name dropping, is I feel that he’s just he is just stylistically- and lyrically- trying it on. I don’t believe Jacksonville really ever broke his heart. You can effectively argue that he’s just a storytellerbut his stories aren’t convincing and I see the artifice. “OK, now I’m gonna write a song that shows I love the Grateful Dead and Robert Hunter” This year’s best work, like Bon Iver and Fleet Foxes and Ben Sollee etc feel like these were the songs they had to create. I boought t a few albums since Gold but none of them move or interest me and I dont think Mr Adam’s is getting any more of my money, despite his obvious talent