Well, its time to review on of my favorite albums.(just for fun) Ryan Adams is a good songwriter in the sense that he writes a LOT of songs, has a few popular albums, other people like to cover his songs, etc. But I find him to be an amazing songwriter because of his “identify-ability.” For example, his love songs don’t seem to be about the most incredible women, [see songs like “Sylvia Plath”(the album Gold)], but about real women. To me it feels like he captures real life experiences in his music. Anyway, I digress…
So, with his most recent album, “Easy Tiger,” he fully matures into songwriting completeness in the sense that every song on this album is great, as well as different from each other. The weakest song by far would be ‘Goodnight Rose,’ but even so, an easy song to listen to. The strongest song would be the next one, ‘Two,’ which he manages to sing about sucking at life with as few words as possible while still getting the point across. After that, its still all quality music the whole way through. A great cynical, close-feeling song called ‘Oh My God, Whatever, etc.’ A nice country visit with ‘Tears of Gold’ and ‘Pearls on a String.’ A few love songs. A great melancholy experience with the closer, ‘I Taught Myself How to Grow Old.’ And somewhere in there, a nice, mildly psychotic diversion with ‘Halloween Head.’ All good songs here.
A very identifiable experience, indeed. It makes sense for every song on this album to have made the cut. I think everyone can like it. And most people would learn to love it. Go out and get it. Entertain your humanness for a while.
- Wesley Morrison
