Ryan Adams: "Haloweenhead" Video

It's nice to see a Ryan video that is lighthearted--this one is sure to bring some authentic laughs and teach you some moves to try out on the dance floor this summer. Unfortunately I can't embed the video so you will have to head over to youtube to watch it. Just click the link, it's worth it!

Happy July 4th: 4 tracks 4 the Occasion

In honor of Independence Day in the US, here are four songs for the occasion! I'd like to wish a special happy birthday to my faithful, loving, beautiful...dog, Patches--Happy 13th!

1. Voxtrot: "Firecracker" - One of the best--certainly one of the catchiest--songs on their most recent self-titled release. It takes a minute to really get going, but then it's nothing by fireworks until the end. Check out the CSV post on Voxtrot. Plus, head over to their website for summer tour dates--I'll be at the Baltimore show.

2. Ryan Adams: "Firecracker" - Some upbeat, harmonica-clad, Ryan to celebrate the day with: "well everybody wants to go forever / I just wanna burn up hard and bright / I just wanna be your firecracker / And maybe be your baby tonight." Check out the recent CSV review for Easy Tiger, and the 5 worst Ryan Adams songs.

3. Cold War Kid: "Indoor Fireworks" - An Elvis Costello cover and a dern good one. Plus, we get a friendly safety disclaimer: "Indoor fireworks can still burn your fingers...they'll bring a tear when the smoke gets in your eyes." Be safe this 'fourth! Check out this site to get three free live tracks recorded in Amsterdam.

4. Weezer: "Holiday" - Bet you didn't see this one coming! Enjoy your holiday and one of Weezer's last good songs. Cheers!

Ryan Adams

With Ryan Adams' latest album, Easy Tiger, he picks up right where he left off with 2005's Jacksonville City Nights, his second album with The Cardinals, and arguably his best since his solo debut in 2000. Easy Tiger is Ryan and the band at their best, mixing just enough rock, just enough bluegrass / country, and just enough 'average joe' lyricism to put a smile on your face. The album contrasts plugged-in, guitar driven rockers nicely with stripped-down, acoustic melodies. "Haloweenhead" is reminiscent of "Do Miss America" and a few other of the better tracks on Rock N Roll--a textbook rock song, with a crunching riff and a short but tasty guitar solo. "Oh my God, Whatever, Etc," which barely clocks in at over two and a half minutes, is a beautiful arrangement of acoustic guitar, piano, and vocals. The song, like many of Ryan's best, is a simple vignette focusing on personal, specific details that carry over easily into out own lives. Adams is still cranking the albums out like ipod Nanos, but luckily quality has not been sacrificed for quality. Easy Tiger doesn't quite match up to Cold Roses or Jacksonville City Nights in terms of the overall mood it creates, but it is one of his strongest releases as well as a pleasant reminder that the Ryan Adams vault is still full (and may even be gaining some interest).

The Report Card
Vocals: A (30%)
Lyrics: B (30%)
Instruments: B+ (30%)
Album art/Packaging: C (10%)
Easy Tiger: B+

Buy Easy Tiger for under 10 bucs

Listen to "Halloweenhead" (4/5)
Listen to "Oh my God, Whatever, Etc." (4/5)

Free Live Track of the Day: 6.25.07

Check out the famous "Look Who Got a Website," (-5/5) by NYC's toughest rapper, Ryan Adams. Technically it's not a "live" track, so here's one of the best live versions of "Firecracker." (4.7/5)

The 5 Worst Ryan Adams Songs

I wanted to do this post as the resident ryanadamsaholic here at CSV to prove that (1) I'm not disillusioned and am still fit to make discerning musical judgments, and (2) Ryan Adams, or let's just say The Label, has made a few bad musical decisions.

5. "Tennessee Sucks" - Tennessee may suck "in the summer," but this tune off Demolition sucks any season. I know a lot of people like this song--at the last RA show I went to the guy behind me kept saying, "Boy, I sure hope he plays 'Tennessee Sucks'"! Good for me, bad for that guy, the song was not played. I will say, however, that this live version aint too bad. .

4. "Enemy Fire" - Despite a great guitar solo at the end of this song, the first three minutes are so bad you can never get to it without skipping ahead. This song has drunken mistake written all over it and could probably be used as enemy fire by playing it over and over.

3. "The Sadness" - This song is just too long--it would certainly work as background music in a Clint Eastwood western movie, but I almost always skip over it when I listen to 29.

2. "Nuclear" - This song is plagued by unoriginal writing, both musically and lyrically. Perhaps the lyrics are just too deep for me to understand--all I pick up on is something about buring Porches and the Yankees losing to the Braves. It is nice the Yankees lost, though.

1. "1974" - This is hands down my least favorite Adams song, complete with a dreadfully uncreative chorus. On the bright side, we will never forget the "[year] he was born."

I had a hard time writing this post, mostly because any less than stellar RA songs are easily overshadowed by his exhaustive library of alt-country classics. On that note, keep checking back this week for more RA features leading up to the June 26th release of Easy Tiger.