If every artist could have a record this solid be their "so-so, ho-hum record", they would likely consider themselves lucky...
CD’s I am Diggin’ Right Now is an occasionally occurring series where I casually highlight some discs (new and old) that I think you might like, without boring you with an overly-wordy, metaphor-filled “review” that I often like to bestow upon some other discs.
Let’s get one thing out of the way and cleared up. Ryan Adams may never record another masterpiece like Heartbreaker, or he may never again reach the rootsy heights that his work with Whiskeytown claimed. Guess what? Lucinda Williams, will likely never record another Car Wheels on a Gravel Road-style opus, Wilco will never be Uncle Tupelo and cut Anodyne, just as Pat Green and Jack Ingram will likely never be as rough and tumble as they were when they were barely more than frat-house headliners. For better or for worse, artists develop, they move on and in some cases become something that that their original, die-hard loyalists hoped they would never become. Adams has become the default example of the loony, possibly misunderstood, definite diva, and even semi-genius songwriter who has been nothing short of amazingly prolific (thats a pretty specific category, I guess). Many have pointed to this proliferation of albums by Adams as the prime culprit in the alleged watering-down of his albums quality. The same folks say that his releases have gone from excellent to merely “o.k.”, as he is forcing himself to spread the outstanding cuts over a dozen or so LP’s and EP’s over the course of the last 9 years instead of slowing his pace and compiling all of the more brilliant tracks onto two or three albums.
I’ll say it. I dont get that at all. While I am not a fan of Adams’ 2005 LP, 29, I feel that Cold Roses, Jacksonville City Nights (both from 2005 also), 2007′s Easy Tiger and last year’s Cardinology are prime examples of solid writing, a focus on melody and, thanks to his band The Cardinals, excellent musicianship that continues to defy neat and simple definiton, no matter how many people decide that it’s simple Country-Rock. Songs such as “Cobwebs”, “Magick” and “Born Into a Light” would fit nicely onto any album that a sour, old-school Adams fan would consider “real Ryan Adams records”. So, calm down and get over your good-ol’ days syndrome, you bitter, hipster Ryan Adams fan/hater, it isn’t so bad…
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