I skimmed two or three reviews of Ryan Adams and the Cardinals’ latest release, Cardinology, last week and all basically boiled the album down to three words - “Eh, it’s okay.”
I spent the weekend listening to the album, hoping a light would go off and I’d fall in love. I didn’t, but it’s not because the album is bad. Far from it actually. It’s just that when Ryan Adams releases an album, my expectations are through the roof. He has a way of spoiling us fans.
The albums starts off strong with a strong trifecta of songs - “Born Into A Light,” “Go Easy” and “Fix It.” My hopes were really high after hearing those and I was sure that the best was yet to come. Unfortunately “Magick” started playing next, a song that comes across like a cheesy 80’s rock song. Trite lyrics like “What goes around comes around” repeat over and over and then this next verse made me hate the song for good:
So turn the radio on. So turn the radio up. So turn the radio up loud and get down. Let your body move. Let your body sway. Let the music play.
After “Magick” the album does come back to earth, but never takes a leap to greatness. “Crossed Out Name” is a highlight, but I still can’t find a single track that is better than the worst song on Adams’ previous album, Easy Tiger (That’s a compliment to Easy Tiger, not an insult to Cardinology).
Ryan Adams is still one of the most prolific songwriters that I’ll ever see in my lifetime. While Cardinology may sound like the b-sides from Easy Tiger, it played around the house all weekend and got no complaints. I guess it’s because a bland release for Ryan Adams is still a good album.
Here are some Cardinology live tracks:
Ryan Adams and The Cardinals - Born Into A Light
Ryan Adams and The Cardinals - Fix It
Ryan Adams and The Cardinals - Sink Ships
Ryan Adams and The Cardinals - Crossed Out Name
Ryan Adams and The Cardinals - Cobwebs
Ryan Adams and The Cardinals - Stop
Ryan Adams and The Cardinals - Evergreen
{ 3 comments… read them below or add one }
Good not great. And I agree that Magick is a horrible tune.
Ditto here. Didn’t knock my socks off either.
The single “Fix it” is brilliant and likeable. There are some very good cuts but too many slow songs making the album tiring.
I hyped it on Everhype and scored it 84% which I think is fairly accurate.
http://www.everhype.com/hyper/mikeborgia?X=S1812
I wouldn’t mind getting some opinions on it . If you get on there, rate me a 5 & request friendship.
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