Ryan Adams, Easy Tiger

by Allison Carter
09/05/2007

Ryan Adams has shown diversity on his previous eight records. He has moved from his classical country music influence to his more pure rock side. Any way you look at it, Ryan Adams has been trying his luck with a wide spectrum of music genres and continues to make music his fans enjoy. His recent release, Easy Tiger, covers all of his genres.

Easy Tiger was released on June 29, 2007. The album opens with “Goodnight Rose,” which feels like a transition, in music and the title, from his previous album Cold Roses. From the beginning of the song you are ambushed by the sound of all the instruments. The twang of his voice matched by the twang from the guitar is the mix that defines his music.

From the first guitar riffs of “Halloweenhead” you can tell that it directly mirrors songs on Rock N Roll. This song, like the album it is reminiscent of, is straying from the Ryan Adams' alt country line. The song, in general, seems more aggressive than the rest of the album. An impatient tone is reinforced by the sporadic use of obscenities. The words complement the hard strumming of the guitar and the sharpness in which the lyrics are delivered.

The one song that is a bit difficult to think belongs on another album is "Off Broadway." In a way it could belong on Demolition, but is a little different than most of the tracks on that CD. The song lulls you while the vocals squeeze out lyrics that seem painful to speak. The image of a lonely man searching around Broadway for his ‘home’ is conjured up when you listen carefully. The almost silent drums in the background add anxiety to the song which leaves you wanting a conclusion that never comes.

"Rip Off" is a song that makes one want to drift and think. It also happens to be one of the best songs on the album. In the first few minutes of the song it gets you thinking about 'how many friends you have that want to fix themselves.' Ryan Adams becomes Ryan to anyone in this song; he could be the neighbor next door telling you a story about his latest personal problem. ‘If I’m being honest with you and it seems like I’m being rude at least you didn’t get a rip off’. He’s just trying to let people know he will always try to be real.

Poor Ryan Adams seems to get tricked by girls all the time. More than a few songs on previous albums have said how he gets toyed around with by girls. The story is the same in “These Girls." However, this song is much more entertaining and upbeat than the one song most similar to it, “She Wants to Play Hearts." In “These Girls” he has a childlike manner, comparing himself to monsters under the bed and matchbox cars bought to be burnt. The beat to the song would put one in mind of a little girl skipping down the street smiling because of the trick she just played on her best boy friend. He ends the song without resolve, just as in like/love nothing is certain, but we all still continue to want the feelings we get from those who hypnotize us.

One song left to go and I realized something was missing from the album - the one thing I love most about Ryan Adams, his harmonica. With high hopes I proceeded to listen to “I Taught Myself to Grow Old." As soon as I pressed the play button my ears were filled with the glorious sound of Ryan Adam’s harmonica wailing to introduce the song. The sweet sorrow that is so easily conveyed by a harmonica matches this song like nothing else could match it (except maybe a violin). Other than the harmonica solo the song is without instruments, but is all the better for it. The true sadness of the lyrics could not be felt if it was less spare.

As a whole the album is difficult to listen to the first time, but as you get familiar with the songs they begin to be something you long to hear. Ryan Adams is referencing some of the sounds from past albums, but he doesn’t go wrong on this album by sticking with what he knows.