Track Listing

1. goodnight rose
2. two
3. everybody knows
4. halloween head
5. two hearts
6. tears of gold
7. the sun also sets
8. off broadway
9. rip off
10. oh my god, whatever, etc.
11. pearls on a string
12. these girls
13. i taught myself how to grow old

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #2381 in Music
• Released on: 2007-06-26
• Number of discs: 1
• Format: Explicit Lyrics

Album Description
I think there are really only two kinds of pop music CDs these days. There are the ones you listen to only once or twice, maybe downloading the single good song to your iPod or computer; then there are others that grow stronger, sweeter, and more necessary each time you play them. Gold was that way; Cold Roses was that way; so was Jacksonville City Nights. I won't say Adams is the best North American singer-songwriter since Neil Young...but I won't say he isn't, either. What I know is there has never been a Ryan Adams record quite as strong and together as Easy Tiger; it's got enough blue-eyed, blue-steel soul (with the faintest country tinge) to make me think of both Marvin Gaye and the Righteous Brothers. Probably ridiculous, but true. And the songs themselves are beautiful--the lyrics tightly focused and brief, the feeling one of melancholy calm that will probably be a revelation to fans that remember the old, sometimes angry Ryan Adams.

Now there's this, maybe the best Ryan Adams CD ever. And I know you want to listen to it right away. But slow down. Take your time. This album asks for that, and it will reward your full attention.

In other words--easy, Tiger.

--Stephen King

Amazon.com
Easy Tiger, Ryan Adams's ninth solo studio album, is a return to form in every way. He's already shown that he can bash out three albums in one year--not to mention the hilarious fake hip-hop records posted for free on his Web site--and that he can sound as much like the Grateful Dead as he wants to in his constant subsequent touring. Backed once again by the Cardinals, Adams synthesizes and refines his approach to smooth, gorgeous country-pop. "Tears of Gold" is one of the best songs he's written in ages, while "Two" is a slowly percolating, sweet little number that recalls Sean Hayes in its soulful folksiness (someone named Sheryl Crow accompanies Adams on vocals). One of the greatest treats of this languorous, twangy album is the subtle ways that genre gets played with. "I Taught Myself How to Grow Old" is the best Harvest outtake Neil Young never wrote, while the treated, synth-sounding guitar solo on the druggy, chooglin' "Halloweenhead" sounds like it comes straight out of Journey. And "The Sun Also Sets" sounds more than a little like Rufus Wainwright covering Fred McDowell's "Write Me a Few of Your Lines." It bursts with enough melodrama as to border on musical theater. But, as is clear on these songs of love and loss, Adams has always been at his best when giving into his most mellow, dramatic side. --Mike McGonigal

More Ryan Adams

Heartbreaker

Gold

Love Is Hell

Rolling Stone May '07
We Love "Easy Tiger" Ryan's stunning new record. Nothing has rivaled his classic debut, 2000's uniformly gorgeous Heartbreaker...until now.

Customer Reviews

Ryan Adams moves beyond mimicking others
The title of this review probably sounds like I don't like Ryan Adams -- actually I do. I love albumns like "Gold" and "Cold Roses," songs like Dear John, Come Pick Me Up, etc. But I was always very aware that he was often (hopefully consciously) sounding eriely like the Dead, Graham Parsons, or even Van Morrison (Answering Bell on Gold). The nice thing about Easy Tiger is it seems like Ryan Adams has dropped the mimic routine and is making his own sound. Influences are still there -- Tears of Gold clearly echos Graham Parson's style country -- but they no longer dominate. So if you love the Dead, definitely buy Gold instead of this album. If you love Parsons/Flying Buritto Brothers get a number of earlier tracks. This is something more unique.

As fans know, Adam's song writing is typically angst ridden and Easy Tiger is no exception -- probably half the songs have some degree of pain in them. But for those not familar with Adams, he is not one yet another whining primadonnas who seem to dominate the male side of the pop market these days. Adams' angst is more heartfelt and real and doesn't stray into bubble gum land. Not that its depressing -- heartfelt is definitely the word. In terms of the instrumentation, the guy loves pedal steel and uses it to good effect to contribute to songs that seem to swell in tempo and intensity. It's always there if you listen -- but not in a way that turns the album into retro-country (with the exception of the couple of explicitly country tunes). And barring the seemingly out of place "Haloween Head" the albumn flows nicely. If you hate country, you'll probably be forwarding through three songs. But in general this is an album you can listen to in its entirety vs just 2 or 3 "hit" songs.

Ryan is no good
Just got back from Ryan Adams' Atl, GA concert. He only sang about 8 songs in about 40 minutes. Then he abrubtly left stage saying only that his voice was gone. $50 for 40 minutes is not worth it. He sounded fine while he was on stage. I don't understand why he cut the show short, but it was not worth it and I think everyone should get their money back!!! What a scam!

What an album
I'm sort of a new Ryan Adams fan and picked this one up after hearing the couple tracks of the Elizabethtown soundtracks. This is a wonderful album... every track. Brilliant songwriting. Nothing's overdone here... its all just right. Nice backup band... all the tracks are 3 mins or less... its just a great album. Great stuff... look forward to more.