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…

The Sun Also Sets January 31, 2009

I’d like to add something to the list of “Oh shit” moments. (See: “Shakedown On 9th Street”)  I would challenge anyone to find a musical moment that comes close to having the same amount of emotion as the second verse in “The Sun Also Sets”, when Ryan yells out “Oh be sure/You’re gonna tear someone apart.”  The rest of the songs snakes along at a comfortable pace with airy falsetto vocals and stop breaks, but that part gives the song a feeling of aggression, intensity, and bitterness that can’t be replicated. 

While I’m a big fan of the album version, I really dig the bluesier performances from the Cardinology tour.  Hearing Neal bang it out on that Rhodes creates a funkier vibe that I didn’t even realize was possible with the song in the first place!

I’ll go ahead and say it…  This is, without a doubt, my favorite song on Easy Tiger and quite possibly any Ryan Adams (and the Cardinals) release since Cold Roses. 

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…

Elizabeth, You Were Born To Play That Part January 1, 2009

I think this song takes the gold medal in the category of Best Title.  There’s just something about songs with long titles that’s irresistable to me.  It has to be eloquent, though.  (Fall Out Boy song titles are usually painfully long)  The other thing that’s great about this song title (besides its length) is the fact that it really says it all.  It’s dramatic, very airy…  (if that makes any sense to anyone)

When it comes to my favorites on this album, “Elizabeth, You Were Born To Play That Part” falls about in the middle.  It’s just not something I’m able to listen to all the time.  The same can be said for a lot of Ryan Adams songs (and sometimes even albums), but I really find it difficult to enjoy “Elizabeth” sometimes.  It follows this grand, powerful song (“The Sadness”) that might be the best on the album with light pianos and vocals.  I’m all excited after that dramatic song only to be brought back down.  I hate to sound like a bratty teenager, but “Elizabeth” is a bit of a buzzkill…

But when the time is right, I feel like this song is what makes the album for me.  I think it probably represents 29 better than any of the other tracks.  Interestingly enough, the album is also something I have trouble with enjoying sometimes…

Enemy Fire December 31, 2008

“Enemy Fire” is another one of those songs about a dysfunctional relationship. (A recurring theme in the music of Ryan Adams)  While many of these songs are slow and relfective, “Enemy Fire” is aggressive and gritty.  The conflict between them is likened to a war, with enemy tanks and planes. (Also, ”enemy-colored roses” for that special lady in your life)  He keeps making it clear to hear that it’s over, but then decides to give her a second chance.  The narrator is making his ultimatum, saying “Learn how to change/And maybe I could stay.”  Still, if it’s reached this point, the odds are slim that she’ll change.  That’s why the final line of the song is “Um… No…”

“Enemy Fire” has some killer classic rock-style guitar riffs and cymbal crashes, making it a nice throwback to the 1970s.  With it’s dramatic music and potential to be a major highlight during a show, it’s really disappointing to know it’s only been played live seven times.  I feel like this song should be seeing a lot of action with the Cardinals, so maybe it’ll appear in a setlist soon.  There’s a lot of potential for jams in there, I hope the band sees it.

It’s aggressive, it could be amazing live, and should definitely be revisited soon.

1974 December 28, 2008

Let me start by saying I enjoy most of Rock n Roll.  It’s not the kind of album I can listen to every day, but I think it’s totally decent.  Still, 1974 is easily one of my least favorite Ryan Adams songs.  The music is incredibly similar to “Note To Self: Don’t Die”, but the lyrics just aren’t nearly as good.  Some of the lines sound like something out a bad 1980’s pop-metal song.  Let’s be honest, a line like “the city is an animal ready to eat” would fit perfectly in a Guns ‘n’ Roses song.

The lyrics don’t seem to have much to with each other, really.  It’s just a lot of statements that come at you one after another.  I wonder if some of them mean anything at all.  For example: “It’s raining like the bombs in my room when I’m alone.” 

I will say that the “Do you wanna?/Do you wanna?/Do you wanna?” part is kinda cool…