August 16, 2019
Ryan Adams - Easy Tiger
Hello everyone! It's been a while hasn't it? This review is a little over a year after I quit doing the blog. Boy has a lot happened since I last did one. A little "review" on me. I have done a lot in the almost two years since I've written. I have lived on my own for about three years now, have two dogs now, a new job, married the woman of my absolute dreams, and am expecting a son any day now with the woman of my dreams. A lot has changed right? Well one thing that hasn't changed is my love for music, and all kinds. Which leads me to tonight's topic. This album... The album Easy Tiger by Ryan Adams. I have loved Ryan Adams for a long time now... Let me rephrase that. I have loved his music for a long time... From what I have heard and seen about him he is a royal douche, but the same way I don't judge Tiger Woods' golf career and accomplishments based on his personal life, I won't do that to Ryan Adams. I also won't be writing about that. All I care about is the music, especially in regards to the blog. Now lets get into the review shall we? This album has some how escaped my grasp as a "folk, singer songwriter" fan. Like I said I have liked Adams' music for a while, but this album just never popped up. The fist time I heard a song form this album was just a few days ago as my love and I were just finishing up our son - to - be's bedroom, and I sat down and just shuffled his music. The first song that came up was "Two." Nowadays as I get better at playing music, and guitar, singing, and all that jazz I almost immediately think of a song I like when I hear it as something I can play. So when I heard "Two" I looked up the chords and saw it was pretty easy to play, and that I liked the song. I like this style of Adams' as it plays more into the Whiskeytown style more than the rest of his stuff in my opinion (although Heartbreaker will forever be my favorite of his.) Many different feelings come to as I listen to this album. A feeling of love, pain, fun, and experimentation. The album starts off with a middle of the road song called "Goodnight Rose" Its a nice song don't get me wrong, but as you go on you will strike gold. That's beauty in music these days right? You don't need to have the whole album to listen to songs. You can just pick and choose what you listen to. The next four songs on the other hand are down right amazing. Next on the docket is "Two" again the song I first heard. A song that is simple, loving, euphoric, and catchy without being cliche and "run of the mill." The next one is "Everybody Knows" not only is this song very catchy it also has some pretty good layered guitar sounds on top of the catchy hooks and lines. The verses and glide of the chords and step up and downs in the guitar lead into this big boisterous chorus that fills your ears that then quickly slides back into the slick guitar and catchy hooks. Following that song is "Halloweenhead" a more gritty heavy song that has a different feel. Rather than focus on versus and slick guitar it plays more into grime and quick ascending chorus'. This song seems `to be less serious. Not serious as in Adams' doesn't take it serious, but at won't point he stops singing and shouts "guitar solo!" Which then leads into... You guessed it. A guitar solo, quickly followed up with the main riff and catch of the song that then follows that same trend till it slowly fades in and out of your brain. Next is probably the best song on the record. "Oh My God, Whatever, ETC." What a mouthful right? Well just like Everybody knows. This song has plenty of catchy slick guitar work. Starting out you are going to certainly be swaying back and forth. This is probably the most "sit in the hammock in your back yard, and slowly drift into sleep song." The song has accompanying piano which really adds to the soft flow of the song. Just a perfect song all around that will put your mind at ease. What does the lyrics mean and all that? Ah who knows really. Just enjoy it. The next two songs I will skip reviewing, because they are like a cool down of the marathon that was the last four songs. "Off Broadway" Is another great tune. Again featuring. Can you guess... No it's okay I'll wait. I won't finish this blog until you answer. You can't answer, oh right? Well it features some decent guitar... again. Guitar that manages to kinda echo his cadence and rhythm of his voice and lyrics. Other than that it's kind of a trippy mind space song. As quick as we got to that song lets move on to the next great gem on this album... It so happens to be the very next song. "Pearls On A String" this song is in a pretty knock down drag out fight with "Oh My God Whatever, ETC" (goodness how many times am I gonna have to type that title) as the greatest song on the record. Why is this basically tied with that other song... As the best you may ask? well just listen to it. It starts with a great mandolin, and banjo intro that leads into some great flow of lyrics and meaning. He is singing about love. How can you beat that? Aside from all of that. the flow of the lyrics and instruments seem to wave around in a zig zag pattern with eachother. While one takes the lead the other filters into the background. Sure to not take the spotlight off of the focus... Whatever it may be. The backup vocals also are a great touch to add to the layer of all the sounds. "Rip Off" is next, and its a lyric flow masterpiece. The only thing I can say about this is listen to it and the way he sings it, and it will be stuck in your head for days. "Two Hearts" makes it very heard to pick just three favorite tracks. The guitar. The vocal melodies. The meaning. The... Sound? Eh you get the point right? Have you heard it? No? Well what the fuck are you doing reading this? I kid I kid. I shouldn't have to say anything about this song, oh but I will. Talk about a smooth foot tapper song. As soon as it starts you are gonna tap your foot. The start of the electrified guitar will get all the grooves in your bones moving. The lyrics and melodies flow well seeming to follow the melody of the instruments just late enough to keep you falling behind and catching back up enough to drool over the master craftsmanship of the song. This is also the song that probably has the most cryptic/meaningful lyrics. I am not even sure what it means yet, so I won't even try to tell you what they mean. Maybe... Ah nevermind. "These Girls?" Guitar. Guitar. Guitar. Not much more needs to be said. Well except the melody of the lyrics again. Also the change in tone around one minute in, but you'll notice that when you listen to the song right? You all listen to the whole album everytime you read my blog right? Ah of course. Lets ends this thing eh? "I Taught Myself To Grow Old." Don't want to be sad? Don't listen to this song. Starting with the forty niners, little house on the prairie harmonica you may just cry from that alone. It'll make you sad, as long as you have a heart, and there is nothing you can do about it. Just accept it. Somber lyrics, somber instrumentals, but they are all fantastic. A great way to end an album. I Neil Youngesque sound to pull you down from the high you'll get from the bulk of this record. Gold pure gold.
Well everybody I'm sure I am rusty and kinda poopie on the blog, but I wrote it and you read it right? You read it right? Regardless it's good to be back listening to music with a focus so I can write something. Makes me appreciate the music much more.
I give this album 👽👽👽👽 out of five! Extravagant!
Favorite Tracks!
- Pearls On A String
- Oh My God, Whatever, Etc.
- Two Hearts
I do not own any of the pictures or songs associated with this review. All rights belong to Ryan Adams and Lost Highway Records.
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