Go Easy February 24, 2009

Before the album came out, I had read several reviews that mentioned a U2-esque quality found in some of the recordings.  I expected it from “Cobwebs”, but was very pleasantly surprised by how well the studio version of “Go Easy” turned out.  The lyrics aren’t anything special, really, but that doesn’t take away from the emotion found in the song.  The second part of the chorus is what carries the song: “If only I could say this to myself: I will always love you/I will always love you/So go easy on yourself.”  It’s something we all have to tell ourselves time and time again…

Another line that always stood out to me comes in the first verse.  It’s when he sings “Funny how I still hear that voice/Sometimes it’s like it’s so loud/I only hear a ringing sound.”  Yeah, it’s just a line, but it’s hard to hear it and not immediately think about the hearing issues that have been plaguing Ryan for the last year. 

While the song itself isn’t great (still good, though), it’s obviously very personal, and I appreciate being along for the ride in this case.

Like Yesterday February 8, 2009

I’ve always really enjoyed “Like Yesterday” more than most people seem to.  I feel like it is the best reflection of who the Cardinals are on the album.  When they hit that instrumental break at 1:15, it sounds like something that could have come from a 1960s country rock record, before the harmony laden chorus falls into place.  Really, it seems like it should be one of their best live songs, since it’s so open-ended.  I expected Cardinology to feature a lot of the jams and space that you get when you see them in concert, but felt a little disappointed.  Sure, there are some cool instrumental breaks, but it’s different when they’re written in as a bridge. 

While “Like Yesterday” has the right sound, I feel like the band could have launched right into the stratosphere.  There’s just so much sonic ground to cover following the pre-chorus…  I’m not sure why they didn’t extend it, since it seems like they can’t help themselves from doing it during live performances of other songs.  Still, even without the potential for awesome jams, “Like Yesterday” is a favorite of mine from the album.

Crossed Out Name February 1, 2009

Last night, I went to Champaign to see Jeff Tweedy doing a solo show at Foellinger Auditorium, and decided to listen to Cardinology on the trip up there.  One of the passengers in the car (who I hadn’t met before earlier that evening) noticed the Ryan Adams/Cardinals posters in my room and said he was a fan, too.  What proceeded was one of the greatest nerd-offs ever: the debate over what the best song on Cardinology was. 

He agreed with me that “Magick” and “Crossed Out Name” were the two best, it was the order that we couldn’t reach a consensus on.  He said he felt like his voice was a lot stronger on “Magick” than on the rest of the songs, and that it was probably the best representation of The Cardinals playing off of each other.  I argued that, while “Magick” totally kicks ass, it doesn’t contain the emotional knock-out you get when you hear lines like “I wish I could tell you just how I’m hurt” and “When I close my eyes, I see a fire so plain/And my crossed out name…” 

Really, hearing him sing “MY crossed out name” seems to hit a lot harder than “a crossed out name.”  He doesn’t sing it much differently, but those two letters completely transform the lyric for the listener.  I don’t know about the rest of you, but I feel like that’s what makes this song go above and beyond the rest for me…

Fix It January 17, 2009

As I mentioned before, I abstained from listening to any of the new songs before I saw the band live. Part of this was because I really wanted to go into it completely open-minded and take each song in one at a time. I will admit that I read some song titles and found out that first single was going to be “Fix It.” I read what a few other people had to say and noticed that it was described as… (gasp) “funky.”

My biggest fear was that it was going to be something like “Discotheque” by U2, which it absolutely wasn’t. They played it in St. Louis and I finally understood what they meant. It’s about as “funky” as Ryan Adams & The Cardinals can get, which, let’s be honest here, isn’t that funky. Oddly enough, though, those ringing guitars do make me think of mid 1980’s U2. I mean, there’s no way a song like “Fix It” would sound right on The Unforgettable Fire or anything, but I do feel like there’s some influence by the Edge on this track.

I don’t feel like this was the obvious choice for the single, since it isn’t that reflective of the album. Personally, I would have probably gone with “Crossed-Out Name” or “Magick” for the sake of sales. But I guess someone decided that “Fix It” was right at the time…

Cobwebs January 9, 2009

This fall, I made it a goal to avoid listening to the new songs before the shows I went to in Indianapolis and St. Louis.  There were times I was tempted by YouTube and the abundance of bootlegs out there, but I managed to hold out.  When the band went onstage in Indianapolis and started playing something unfamiliar, I immediately started paying close attention.  The song didn’t have any elements of country or folk…  It had a bit of a U2 vibe…  Somehow, the Cardinals managed to jump right out of the alt-country genre and not sound out of place. 

The inconsitency is one of the things I admire about Cardinology, though.  There are elements of funk (“Fix It”), garage rock (“Magick”) and whatever you’d like to categorize  “Cobwebs” as.  (It’s my second-favorite track on the album, by the way) It starts off with Brad Pemberton’s killer floor tom pulse with some synthesizer chirps in the background.  That’s when the minimalistic guitars find their way to the front of the mix.  Add a really great vocal performance (my favorite part is at the end, “The cobweb-ee-ebs…”), and you’ve got a modern classic.  It made for a really strong opener, and I feel like it should have come first on the album, too.  (I made a thread about the sequencing on RAA, to the dismay of several users)

The lyrics discuss a recurring theme in Ryan Adams’ recent work: New York City.  It’s obviously a city he feels strongly about, since he describes it so romantically. (“I always pause if I can on Fifth Avenue/Look uptown with my head in the stars/Somewhere the buildings give way to sunlight/Give way to East and West Central Park”)  I’ve never been, but after he put it so poetically, maybe it’s worth checking out.  I guess I always thought it would be dirty and dangerous…  Velvet Underground style…

Anyway, I think “Cobwebs” shows the right direction for Ryan and the Cards to move in.  It seems like they’re slowly but steadily leaving country behind, so I wouldn’t be entirely surprised if they end up writing more songs with this powerful sound.

Magick December 21, 2008

The first time I listened to Easy Tiger, I was shocked (pleasantly, I might add) that “Halloweenhead” made the cut.  It didn’t fit in with the rest of the songs, it was kind of dumb, and sort of messed up the momentum the first few tracks had built up.  Before I heard it, I read that “Magick” was another big, dumb rock song and I got scared.  However, when I heard it in St. Louis back in October, my feelings changed. 

Cardinology has some pretty solid rock songs.  I can’t think of many Ryan Adams albums where a song like “Cobwebs” or “Fix It” would fit, since they aren’t a thing like the folky/acoustic alternative style he had been perfecting.  However, the newfound sense of confidence the Cardinals have brought to this album is really shining through.  “Magick” is loud, cocky, and dangerous.  How many good songs can you think of that reference a George A. Romero movie?  Exactly…

There are killer harmonies between Ryan and Neal on this one, particularly in the pre-chorus and the “zombies running all around” line.  I didn’t actually pay any attention to the lyrics until I had listened to the album a few times, mostly because I didn’t have a chance to.  It hit the crowd in St. Louis like a…  Well…  Like a warhead (on legs)…  It barely lasted two minutes, and completely blasted everyone in that theater away.  (To hear it, the quality of the recording on Archive.org is amazing)

So this song that serves as an ode to the power of rock is way better than the previous big, dumb rocker and keeps up the live feel of the album.  Hopefully he’ll keep up this tradition on the next album(s).

Born Into A Light December 10, 2008

One of the things I’ve always enjoyed about Ryan Adams’ writing is the fact that it feels like he’s speaking directly to you.   Really, I think it’s a joint effort between the artist and the fans.  A lot of people who listen to Ryan Adams connect with the feelings he’s talking about, and since he has experienced all of this firsthand, it isn’t hard for him to express those emotions and situations in an honest way.    His lyrics can make you feel guilt, heartbreak and, in this case, comfort. 

He addresses the fears that we, as humans, naturally have.  “There is a reason why/And we don’t understand, but will/You gotta keep the faith”: is an interesting line.  As many of his fans know, Ryan Adams isn’t particularly religious.  (On his blog, he mentions celebrating Chanukah with his Jewish friends, however)  This faith he’s talking about is a faith in yourself.  If there’s something you need to recover from, you have the strength to do it.  Coming from him, and considering what he’s been through, it’s encouraging that he would want to spread this message.  This is that honesty I mentioned in the first paragraph…  While other artists might sound preachy, this song sounds like a friend comforting you.

The pre-chorus is an attempt to motivate the listner by explaining that the present is more important than the past.  After all “The past is just a memory”…  He then promises that you’ll “heal inside eventually” before the gospel-like chorus kicks in.  “We were born into a light/We were born of light” reflects just how special and important we are as individuals. 

The second verse is my favorite:

“For everyone alone, I wish you faith and hope
 And all the strength to cope
 To be your own best friend
 Have confidence and keep the faith”

This furthers the message that each individual has the strength to change his or her life however they feel.  However, he knows it isn’t easy. (Especially if you’re alone)  That’s why he offers this support and strength.  One of the most important things you have to do is be able to count on yourself (‘be your own best friend”) before you can be stable again. 

For an artist whose songs typically revolve around feelings of loneliness and sadness, it’s surprising how natural a song like “Born Into A Light” sounds.  I know I said it already, but the reason it sounds so honest is because it is.  He’s been to the bottom and recovered and so can you…

Keep the faith,

br