On June 26th (whoa, that's next week) Ryan Adams returns with Easy Tiger, his ninth solo studio album. Let me start by saying, "Wow!" because this one is damn near perfect. Nothing he's done has rivaled his solo debut, 2000's uniformly gorgeous Heartbreaker...until now.
This past weekend I had a chance to sit down and listen to the upcoming album - start to finish. Okay. Honestly? I've put that album through its paces at least 2 dozen times by now. Easy Tiger is so consistent. Quite possibly Ryan's most consistent album - ever.
I'll spare you my review of the album. I don't know enough words (big or poetic) to do it justice. Filter Magazine recently released a review. I'll drop it in at the end of this post.
Three days after the album hits store shelves, I will be catching him live at the Somerville Theatre in Boston. Getting in to this show was a feat in itself. When tickets went on sale a few weeks ago, I was suffering from a case of naive-ness. When iCal told me to pick up the ticket at 10AM, I should have done so. Instead, I figured I would drive to the office and snag it once I got to my desk. Who knew that during the 20 minutes it took me to get to work the place would be sold out. I nearly crawled under my desk and assumed the fetal position. Nearly...
Yet thanks to Craigslist, I picked up an amazing seat before the day was over. Granted, the cost of said ticket left me with a nauseous feeling for a few days, but that was fine seeing I had just spent the next two weeks' grocery money. :)
So.. Friday, June 29th at the Somerville Theatre. I'm goin' at it solo, so hopefully I'll find a few of you Bostonians at the same show. Drop me a line and let me know. I have no doubt it will be a great night!!
As promised, here's the review from Filter Mag. Enjoy.
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The most profound truths in life can't be expressed; the rest are put into song. Like everyone I know, Ryan Adams finished out his 20s confused as fuck. He tried being all things to all people; then he released an album (appropriately titled 29) that was pretty much nothing to no one. Well, fear not -- our hero of Whiskeytown has returned. Focus and fortified, Easy Tiger will likely be adored by many, but it will hit home the hardest with all American kids who woke up one day to find themselves in their early 30s. When you're a young adult, disenchantement breeds rage. By the time your reach your 30s, it leads to song titles like "Oh My God, Whatever, Etc." and "I Taught Myself How to Grow Old." This is a forlorn and melancholic -- but ultimately cathartic -- album.
These are tunes about things falling apart, or else just fading away, as we grow older -- passion, romance, hopes, dreams. It's an album about being damaged, albeit beautifully so.
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Some Ryan Adams linkage for the curious:
Pre-order Easy Tiger on iTunes
The beautiful Sylvia Plath via VIRB
Rolling Stone's album review
Filter's full album review
I've heard it too and I think I agree when I say it's my favorite since Heartbreaker. I think it's just amazing how frequently he puts out music. The dude's a recording machine. I can't wait to get my hands on a copy to listen to Halloweenhead over and over.
Frank
20 Jun 07 at 5:34pm