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Product Description
Review
How does Ryan Adams decide which songs go in which of his creative slots? Do the Cardinals only get a call when he's feeling lonely or does he genuinely feel that they bring something extra to his sound?
If he's of that latter opinion, he's sadly mistaken and the reason is written large across Cardinology.
The most stalwart Adams addict would struggle to tell on first listen whether this was a band effort or just Ryan alone, and even repeated plays fails to show any difference between his solo work and this, an album which, given the title, he presumably sees as the most quintessential Cardinals opus to date.
Still, such things are cosmetic. What surely matters most is the standard of the songs on offer and they, given that Ryan is an artist as interested in quantity as he is quality, are once again on the finer side of good.
A slow burner of an album, its debut play reveals few shining gems, but a closer listen uncovers the dramatic beauty that has made Adams such a star.
What marks out Cardinology for particular praise is the maturity of the songwriting. In the past, fingers could be pointed at Ryan for the occasional dropped pass, an underwritten or over-indulgent song included that bore heavily across its neighbours.
Not so on Cardinology. The album is measured and thoughtful, the histrionics and melodrama that has infected past works left aside in favour of something subtler - the musical equivalent of a raised eyebrow as opposed to a waving hand.
Such a quality does have a downside - there's nothing here to rival the brilliance of, say, New York or Two, but nor is there anything you can genuinely say didn't work.
His previous album, Easy Tiger, was acclaimed as a coming-of-age piece, a career breakthrough that could take him from cult status to the big time. If his intention was prove that such a sentiment was the truth, Cardinology does it in spades. --Chris Long
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
21 of 24 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
I have been a fan of Ryan Adams since his Whiskeytown days. It is great to see him in such good form. The Cardinals are providing a fantastic vehicle for his song writing and performing. The live shows (many of them soundboard recordings) on the Archive.org give a sense of a fantastically talented band - all top musicians who actually sound better live than they do on record.
I have been listening to Cardinology pretty constantly for a few days now. It's an instantly likeable record, with sing along chorus and a pop sensibility much in the vein of Easy Tiger - but thankfully not quite so smoothly polished in the production. 12 songs (I haven't heard the addittional track on the UK release) in a little over 40 minutes also contribute to the short pop song feel of the record as a whole, but especially the opening 5 tracks. Fix It has been chosen as the first promotional track - and it is a pretty and radio friendly track - but ultimately not one of the strongest tracks here. Magick has an instant crowd pleasing hook - the duelling guitars mixing with the call and response - `what goes around comes around' refrain. Cobwebs is a great song, brooding, beguiling Cardinals at their best. But what `confusing my love for the cobwebs' actually means is anyone's guess. `Let us down easy' leaves the rock / pop territory of the early tracks for Willie Nelson country. Sink Ship departs from the verse chorus verse structure to create a song with a stupendous build towards a climax - the dense atmosphere, beguiling harmonies landing the first real emotional punch of this album. The complete stunner is left until the final track. `Stop' starts as a quiet piano and vocal (the rest of the album is very guitar orientated). The intensity builds as the song progresses bringing in a simply gorgeous string section. Probably the best rehab song I have ever heard and a note of optimism that Ryan is going from strength to strength with the Cardinals
I have been listening to Cardinology pretty constantly for a few days now. It's an instantly likeable record, with sing along chorus and a pop sensibility much in the vein of Easy Tiger - but thankfully not quite so smoothly polished in the production. 12 songs (I haven't heard the addittional track on the UK release) in a little over 40 minutes also contribute to the short pop song feel of the record as a whole, but especially the opening 5 tracks. Fix It has been chosen as the first promotional track - and it is a pretty and radio friendly track - but ultimately not one of the strongest tracks here. Magick has an instant crowd pleasing hook - the duelling guitars mixing with the call and response - `what goes around comes around' refrain. Cobwebs is a great song, brooding, beguiling Cardinals at their best. But what `confusing my love for the cobwebs' actually means is anyone's guess. `Let us down easy' leaves the rock / pop territory of the early tracks for Willie Nelson country. Sink Ship departs from the verse chorus verse structure to create a song with a stupendous build towards a climax - the dense atmosphere, beguiling harmonies landing the first real emotional punch of this album. The complete stunner is left until the final track. `Stop' starts as a quiet piano and vocal (the rest of the album is very guitar orientated). The intensity builds as the song progresses bringing in a simply gorgeous string section. Probably the best rehab song I have ever heard and a note of optimism that Ryan is going from strength to strength with the Cardinals
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
This is Ryan Adam's most consistent effort for some time and it is clear that the esteeemed backing band the Cardinals are thouroughbreds in their musicianship. Ryan's lyrics and delivery still have the capacity to evocate, this being best illustrated here on 'Natural Ghost', 'Fix It' and the poignant and rather gorgeous 'Crossed Out Name'. But these songs seem to lack definition from each other; where is the diversity and wealth of musical ideas (and indeed classic songs) that is to be found on the landmark Gold? The only song here that really represents a distinguishable tempo change is the rather embarrasing cod rock circa 1982 that is ' Magick'. Nevertheless, this does represent the beginnings of a return to form following the truly uninspired Easy Tiger and confirms to doubting fans that in stumbling around in the dark he has relocated an ounce or two of his unquestioned songwriting talent. It is to be hoped that Ryan will now embrace the content of quality not quantity in his future releases because there is no doubt that his best songs have the capacity to touch a nerve with discerning music followers.
Young Danny, York
Young Danny, York
11 of 13 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
Cardinology follows much in the same vein as last year's Easy Tiger, though this time the Cardinals are credited as playing on the album. I think it's more cohesive than last year's effort, keeping mostly to one style rather than the mixed bag that was Easy Tiger. Once again these are concise songs, devoid of the extended jams that are the staple at a Cardinals gig. This means that the record is not necessarily an accurate reflection of what the songs will sound like live, but the band bring something that Adams lacked at times with his solo albums, namely focus. Most of these songs are a radio-friendly 3 minutes long, with the longest being album-closer 'Stop' at a little over 5 minutes.
The Cardinals complement Adams well, adding nicely to his alt. country sound with the multiple harmonies and the pedal steel. There are some songs where he seems to be straining a little, particularly the warbled ending to 'Cobwebs', but the vocal performance is good on the whole (I especially like 'Born Into A Light'). Occasionally the lyrics stumble around a little too, as is the case on 'Sinking Ships', however, they are mostly well-written and thought out. 'Fix It' is a pretty single that is inoffensive and likely to appeal to those who enjoyed Easy Tiger, while 'Magick' is the Cardinology equivalent of 'Halloweenhead', complete with ridiculous lyrics and a call and return chorus. On 'Evergreen' it is easy to see the Grateful Dead influence (particularly in the lines 'Maybe you'll find some roots to lay down') in the Reckoning-style acoustic arrangement, but it is a pretty ballad that sounds similar in parts to 'Wildflowers' from Gold. 'Stop' is a stand-out track, harking back to the 'old' Ryan with its sparse piano chords and subtle strings, and 'Memory Lane' is a beautiful, wistful piece of Americana complete with banjo and acoustic guitar.
Overall, the album is a step up from Easy Tiger. It is one that will get under your skin and grow in appeal with repeated listens, but while it is a good album it is Adams in his comfort zone. While it is more consistent than Cold Roses or Love is Hell, there are no truly brilliant tracks that come from him willing to take risks. For this reason I'm only giving it 4 stars; it's good, but there are better Ryan Adams albums.
The Cardinals complement Adams well, adding nicely to his alt. country sound with the multiple harmonies and the pedal steel. There are some songs where he seems to be straining a little, particularly the warbled ending to 'Cobwebs', but the vocal performance is good on the whole (I especially like 'Born Into A Light'). Occasionally the lyrics stumble around a little too, as is the case on 'Sinking Ships', however, they are mostly well-written and thought out. 'Fix It' is a pretty single that is inoffensive and likely to appeal to those who enjoyed Easy Tiger, while 'Magick' is the Cardinology equivalent of 'Halloweenhead', complete with ridiculous lyrics and a call and return chorus. On 'Evergreen' it is easy to see the Grateful Dead influence (particularly in the lines 'Maybe you'll find some roots to lay down') in the Reckoning-style acoustic arrangement, but it is a pretty ballad that sounds similar in parts to 'Wildflowers' from Gold. 'Stop' is a stand-out track, harking back to the 'old' Ryan with its sparse piano chords and subtle strings, and 'Memory Lane' is a beautiful, wistful piece of Americana complete with banjo and acoustic guitar.
Overall, the album is a step up from Easy Tiger. It is one that will get under your skin and grow in appeal with repeated listens, but while it is a good album it is Adams in his comfort zone. While it is more consistent than Cold Roses or Love is Hell, there are no truly brilliant tracks that come from him willing to take risks. For this reason I'm only giving it 4 stars; it's good, but there are better Ryan Adams albums.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
Cardinal sin that this album gets overlooked
Absolutely brilliant album.
At the moment it's my favourite Ryan Adams album and I can't see that view changing for a long time. Read more
At the moment it's my favourite Ryan Adams album and I can't see that view changing for a long time. Read more
Published on 3 May 2010 by J. Smart
Give it a chance!
I am very surprised by the one star reviews on here. This is never in a million years a one star album. It is a beautifully chilled and thoughtful album. Read more
Published on 5 April 2010 by Boddicker
Abysmal !
Well,what a disappointment.I really should have taken more notice of the fact that this was the last offering on a specific contract, because it smacks of a "Contract-filling"... Read more
Published on 2 Mar 2010 by David M. Webster
Adams' most soulful work to date!
Cardinology is a strange album. On first listen I was distictly unimpressed but then, like many of Ryan Adams best creations, the songs slowly start to lodge in your brain and... Read more
Published on 24 Mar 2009
Ryan Adams gets an editor. Results not as predicted.
Although he has retained his image as a wilful, ego-driven contrarian, Ryan Adams may be listening to his critics after all. Read more
Published on 27 Jan 2009 by J. Jenkins
Cardinology-GOLD!
Well what can i say, Ryan Adams and the Cardinals have possibly produced their best work yet. This is a fantastic album that from the first listen your aware is good, but played... Read more
Published on 28 Dec 2008 by King of pain
small genius quietly going about his business.....
About halfway through this album Ryan sings "Some of us are strong....but the rest of us are weak". The track is Let Us Down Easy and the moment would serve as a worthy abstract... Read more
Published on 24 Dec 2008 by Barca 82
The tortured artist finds peace
Ryan Adams is a rarity - a genuine tortured artist. He writes with heartfelt angst and sometimes, cynically delivers parodies of his favourite styles. Read more
Published on 22 Nov 2008 by The Outsider
Ryan makes me go Blue
As a hugh Ryan/Whiskeytown fan since the beginings this new full length release makes me want to shed tears of disbelief. Read more
Published on 12 Nov 2008 by Mr. D. TAYLOR
best cardinals yes?
another year has given us another ryan adams album following up from easy tiger,this see's ryan and the cardinals at there best yet,its a very rewarding album to listen to and take... Read more
Published on 8 Nov 2008 by Philip R. Brittain
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