A Look At What Is New In Music - WEEK OF 10.28.08
MP3: Ryan Adams - Fix It (Live 10.04.08)
If 2007’s Easy Tiger was Ryan Adams’ unintentional nod to Willie Nelson, Cardinology, Mr. Adams’ latest effort to include his backing band The Cardinals, must be his tilt-of-the-hat to Mick Jagger.
Lacking Adams’ penchant for over-indulgence – the whole 12-song disc clocks in just over the 40-minute mark and includes only two songs that exceed four minutes – Cardinology finds Adams more sincere and rock-oriented than ever before.
“Fix It” has the aforementioned swagger of the Stones laced through the verses and is held together with a brilliantly yearning pop hook of a chorus. “Magick” starts with a power-chord progression worthy of The Black Keys and culminates with a snarky repeat of “Turn the radio up loud and get down”.
As the disc progresses, the more typical Adams emerges. “Let Us Down Easy” is a countrified shuffle injected with a little attitude. “Natural Ghost” would have fit easily on Easy Tiger or even Love is Hell with its dramatic flair and falsetto swells. But even here Adams sounds more controlled and focused than usual – things that make the album so listenable, it may be the bridge that leads new fans into the Adams camp.
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