Live Review: Cardinals at the Ambassador

My own review is further down, but here I thought I'd mention IndieLimerick's wonderful review, and he also has a download for the bootleg of the show.

See here:
http://indielimerick.blogspot.com/2008/11/ryan-adams-live-ambassdor-theatre_11.html

Check out my own review here:
http://swearimnotpaul.blogspot.com/2008/11/review-ryan-adams-cardinals-ambassador.html

Review: Ryan Adams and the Cardinals, Ambassador Theatre, Dublin, 8 November 2008

A totally different show from last year's sit-down extravaganza at the National Stadium, where the setlist was:

Bartering Lines
Peaceful Valley
Please do not let me go
Cold Roses
Goodnight Rose
Rescue Blues (Ryan on piano)
Why do they leave
When the stars go blue
Everybody knows
Freeway to the Canyon
Shakedown on 9th Street
---
Mockingbird
Beautiful Sorta
Off Broadway
Magnolia Mountain
Dear Chicago
Wildflowers
Ripoff
Blue Sky Blues
The Sun Also Sets
---
Two

This time, with a new album to support, the band was billed as The Cardinals, no sign of Ryan's name on the bill. As a result, Ryan talked a lot less than last year, where he possibly did as much speaking as singing. It was also a much heavier show than last time out, with Ryan jamming away on 'Natural Ghost', like it's a totally different song. Many many highlights from this show, especially songs we didn't get to hear last time out. 'I Thought Myself How to Grow Old' was jaw-dropping, with Ryan pulling off some tremendous solo work. 'Wonderwall' was also a nice little treat, and I definitely wasn't expecting to hear 'Desire'.

The new songs sound so much better live than on the record, 'Crossed Out Name' being a special highlight. And after hearing 'Stop' live, my opinion of it has shot up. It sounds glorious with DRA on piano. One of the new songs which was absent was 'Magick' - which is this album's 'Halloweenhead', and since he has played neither live for me, I'll have to go again. Damn you Ryan!

The encore was yet another high point, bring out 'La Cienega Just Smiled' and 'I See Monsters', two (excuse the pun) monster tracks. Oh, and did I mention 'Come Pick Me Up'? With the crowd singing along (well parts of it), it was beautiful.

Only major negative: no repeat of the amazing Joyce/Rose poster from last year. Guess I'll have to make do with this t-shirt.

(Photo by Martina from www.ryanadamsarchive.com)

Setlist: Ryan Adams and the Cardinals, Ambassador Theatre, Dublin, 8 November 2008

Setlist:
Cobwebs
Everybody Knows
Born into a Light
Please Do Not Let Me Go
Fix It
Natural Ghost
Goodnight Rose
Off Broadway
Wonderwall
I Taught Myself How to Grow Old
Sun Also Sets
Come Pick Me Up
Grand Island (Neal singing)
Go Easy
Sink Ships
Crossed Out Name
Whe the Stars Go Blue
Let it Ride
Desire
Evergreen
Cold Roses
---
Freeway to the Canyon (Neal)
Like Yesterday
La Cienega Just Smiled
Stop
Two
I See Monsters

Album Review: Ryan Adams and the Cardinals - Cardinology

I am a Ryan Adams fanboy. I'm not afraid to admit it. Thus I should lap up everything he does. This, however, is not always the case. I find that Ryan Adams fans fall into three categories. There's the first who love the more radio-friendly stuff such as Gold and Easy Tiger. Then the second category has the more country David Ryan Adams (the people who probably loved Whiskeytown in their heyday). They count Jacksonville City Nights and Heartbreaker as their favourites. The third category love the dirty Ryan Adams, the rockier fella who storms off the stage at any and every opportunity. They're usually fans of 29 and Rock N Roll.

That said, not everyone fits into a particular category. Ryan does have loads of other records, EPs, and Sad Dracula-type releases. Many of us DRA fans fall into a few of these categories, or straddle two. And then do real music fans want to categorize themselves? Such as emo or goth or whatever. Anyhow, the point I really want to make is that the newest Ryan Adams & The Cardinals record falls into the first category more or less. It's an extension of Easy Tiger and the Follow the Lights EP. Although probably not as good as either.

There are some great songs on here, but none are up there with Ryan's best. 'Cobwebs', 'Fix It' and 'Sinking Ships' are all very good songs, and on tenth listen sound much better. But all of these songs are so much better live. If you've seen any of the videos on youtube or downloaded any of his recent shows from archive.org, you'll hear how much better the Cardinals are live. The Cardinals are a live band. But this never transfers over to the records.

There's no sense of urgency. It's all too easy 'Go Easy', 'Let Us Down Easy'. Where's the live Ryan? The man who makes interesting records under the guise of Were Wolph? The only song that even hints at this is 'Magick', which is a good attempt, but at the same time is a poor man's 'Halloweenhead'.

The album isn't a failure though. It's probably Adams' most consistent record. It's not all over the place. If mid-tempo country-rock is what you're looking for, Cardinology has it in bucketloads. 'Natural Ghost' may well be the worst thing he's released in years, but songs like 'Crossed Out Name' and 'Evergreen' more than make up for that.

It's not a bad album. It may well be one of the top 25 records I've heard this year. It's just that Ryan Adams and the Cardinals are capable of much more. So much more.

If that 20:20 Box Set ever gets released, you'll see what I mean. Destroyer, Suicide Handbook, 48 Hours all so good. All so unreleased. Come on Lost Highway. Don't leave us hanging.

Stream: Ryan Adams and the Cardinals - Cardinology

For those of you who haven't downloaded the leak of the album, you can now get a first exclusive listen on Ryan Adam's Facebook page of his new album Cardinology. I don't think I've mentioned it before...

Stream it in full here:
http://apps.facebook.com/ilike/artist/Ryan Adams

Download: Ryan Adams - Stereo Sweets

A song so good it didn't make it onto Cardinology. As many of you already know, Ryan works best live. As you will see in November. I can't wait.

Anyhow, Ryan and the Cardinals unleashed another new song, 'Stereo Sweets', and as expected, it's damn good.

Download:
Ryan Adams & The Cardinals - 'Stereo Sweets'

Spork Review: Ryan Adams - Cardinology

Read my own review here: http://swearimnotpaul.blogspot.com/2008/10/album-review-ryan-adams-cardinals.html

First album review of Cardinology online. Taken from the Twisted Spork.

The new album by Ryan Adams is his most mature and restrained album to date. It is also his most lyrically ambitious. Take a song like “Cobwebs,” where it easy to mistake him for Jeff Buckley as he lets his voice swoop like never before bringing to life his metaphors and imagery. Or the following song, “Let Us Down Easy” which shows a lyrical sophistication that is unlike anything he’s done. It is reminiscent of Dylan’s Blood On The Tracks. There was a poetic clearheadedness about it that seemed to signal the beginning of a new era of songwriting for the artist. It did nothing to diminish the accomplishments of the past, or really to foretell the future, but it added another layer of complexity and value to his body of work. Adams’ resume is already pretty damned impressive, and anyone who dips into the unofficial world of his music quickly realizes that the albums are just the tip of the iceberg. He has to be one of the most prolific modern songwriters and miraculously little of it is crap. Listen to the beautiful ballad “Evergreen” and marvel at the fact that this is the same guy who produced punk albums, heavy metal manifestos, suicide anthems, Grateful Dead-inspired country rock and stabs at every other type of music imaginable. Now he seems content with an album of expertly crafted songs, played with great authority by his superb band the Cardinals. Through their non-stop touring and recording this band now plays with the sympathetic ears of a real band - not just a backing group. Perhaps that’s the secret to the title of the album. Ryan Adams has finally gotten himself into a place of health and productivity in an environment that allows him to realize his musical vision, whatever it is today. He has moved from death-wish prodigy to seasoned poet. Lucky for us.

Watch 'Fix It' in Syracuse:

Album Cover: Ryan Adams Cardinology Vinyl

Damn that cover is so much cooler than the CD release. I'll be using that for my iPod anyhow.

Album News: Ryan Adams - Cardinology tracklist announced

In case you didn't see my edit of the last post. Cardinology by Ryan Adams and the Cardinals will be released on October 27th. I cannot wait.

That's also the official album art too.

Tracklist:
1. Born into a Light
2. Go Easy
3. Fix It
4. Magick
5. Cobwebs
6. Let Us Down Easy
7. Crossed Out Name
8. Natural Ghost
9. Sink Ships
10. Evergreen
11. Like Yesterday
12. Stop

Album News: The Cardinals - Cardinology

Yet another album name change, word on the street is that the new Ryan Adams and the Cardinals record will be called Cardinology.

Also, I've heard that Ryan sings all songs, no Neal Casal lead vocal.

The best news, however, is a tentative release date. October 28th. Fuck yeah!

EDIT: Definite release date of October 28th now. And it could be by "Ryan Adams and the Cardinals" rather than simply "Cardinals". Official details on the Lost Highway page:
http://main.losthighwayrecords.com/artist/detail.aspx?&aid=58&in=1

Watch: Cardinals - 'Uneasy Plateau'

So, the first delivery has come from the Cardinology mailbox, it's the jarring 'Uneasy Plateau' video. It's not new material, but a version of 'Easy Plateau' made a bit mental by Ryan Adams. That man is a nutjob.


Uneasy Plateau from Wilson Wolf on Vimeo

"delivery"

Live: Cardinals Ambassador Poster

Thanks to IndieLimerick for uploading the poster for the upcoming Ambassador gig. Also thanks to him and Neil from Thundercrack Playlist (as well as Pat's comment) for the presale password for the Ryan Adams and the Cardinals Dublin gig: "Lights".

Bizarre: Cardinals Mailbox

http://www.cardinology.com/

Check it out. I don't know what it's about, but I signed up.

For fans of Ryan Adams. You'll be informed when you receive any mail. And I'll inform everyone here what the whole thing is about. Probably new album related.

Oh and that picture up there could be the Cardinals III/IV album cover. Maybe.

Watch: Ryan Adams Cardinals - 'CobWebs'

Ryan Adams and the Cardinals played five new tunes last night at The Fillmore in San Francisco. These may well appear on new record Cardinals III/IV, and could also come out at the Ambassador in a few months time (tickets on sale this Friday).

The five songs are tentatively titled 'Go Easy', 'I Fix It', 'CobWebs', 'Windowpane', and 'Evergreen'.

Watch 'Cobwebs' live:


EDIT: Thanks to an anonymous poster for the note that 'Catch Me' is actually the same tune as 'Cobwebs'

Live: The Cardinals (Ryan Adams) at the Ambassador

Big big big big big news for Swear I'm Not Paul. My very own favourite musician, Ryan Adams is playing the Ambassador Theatre on November 8th. Under the guise of his band the Cardinals (with whom Ryan played an excellent National Stadium show last year), the man who releases more music in three months than MTV shows in one year is set to return to our shores to promote new album Cardinals II/IV. And I for one, am very, very excited.

Tickets are on sale next Friday, the 29th, and cost €33.60-€39.60. It's money well spent!

Pre-sale for tickets starts on Wednesday to fanclub members.

Album News: Ryan Adams & The Cardinals - The Cardinals III/IV

Not really much to report here, but like I said before even a snippet of Ryan Adams news is enough to get me going. Pollstar has announced the title for the new Ryan Adams and the Cardinals album, due out later this year ("this fall" they say). It's called The Cardinals III/IV.

Whether that means it's parts three and four i.e. a double album, is unknown as of yet. It could be 3/4 of an album either, or else maybe it's only 3/4 of the Cardinals. It's hard to know with Ryan. Maybe it's all in three-four time. Or it could all be in F#m and G. Who knows?

Album News: Ryan Adams and The Cardinals

No title, no release date, no tracklist, no nothing. Apart from the following post on Muzzle of Bees:

Well, this one comes as a huge surprise. I just opened an e-mail stating that “In anticipation of the tentative fall release of their new album,” Ryan Adams + The Cardinals will play Madison’s Overture Hall on Sunday, October 5th. This show/line up is interestingly being billed as Cardinals (Ryan Adams, Neal Casal, Chris Feinstein, Jon Graboff and Brad Pemberton). We’ll have to wait and see if that’s the direction they decide to go with the new album as well.

Now, the live info and the dates in that post don't have any impact on me, but the news of a "fall release" of the new album excites me greatly. Best news of the year. Woo!

It could well be a Cardinals album, maybe even with some Neal Casal singing (I hope it's all Ryan though), but now that Ryan and Mandy's relationship is over, he has more time to make music (and those weird videos he loves so much):