Customer Rating: 
Summary: Ryan Adams does it again.
Comment: Like many fans, I was awaiting the box set release of Ryan's records recorded between the records and was surprised to find just an EP. I was also worried when I saw the music's tie to October Road, having never seen the show I wondered how it may effect the music. The end result, however, is a great one. With several new recordings, a couple covers and reworkings of Ryan's original work, it is enough to tie both casual and hardcore fans over until the next full release. I especially enjoy the new versions of This Is It and If I Am A Stranger. The band is hitting a real stride and if you haven't been a long time fan this is the perfect place to start and wet your appetite for one of today's most prolific singer/songwriters.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Ideal EP
Comment: A biased review because of my long time fanship of Ryan but he has put together a wonderful EP. It mixes new with restructured old and another fantastic cover. I am not a huge cover fan but when an artist takes a song and turns it on its head then it is worth it. I usually decry most of Hollywood and the modern music scene for not being original and remaking everything that has been done before but his renditions are so different. Buy it, it is great.
Customer Rating: 
Summary: I am a Fan but I don't find this to be essential...
Comment: I love the music of Ryan Adams but this little CD is more or less a side dish compared to the main entrees of his other works. "Dear John" without Norah Jones and "If I am a Stranger" are highlights (I don't mind ol' Norah but it's nice to hear how the song might be without her).
For the price, well, it's a good price. If you're a fan, definitely pick it up. I did. I don't regret it but of all his CDs I have, it's the one I put on at rare times - which is not bad, comparatively speaking, I don't own Rock N'Roll and don't plan to purchase it in the near future. ("If I Am Stranger" - I think is my favourite track...I love the acoustic rendering...)
If you're new to Ryan Adams, start with Gold and work your way around, feel it out, if you prefer the alt-country (Cold Roses, Jacksonville City Lights) aspects or the folk-rock n'roller (Heartbreaker, 29, Love is Hell). This CD is not the best place to start. It's the kind of CD you want because you are a fan but if you could live without it, you would.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Turn on the lights!
Comment: Well, something short and sweet for the Ryan Adams fans. The sound is mostly light and breezy-love the song "Blue Hotel" and the live toned down version of "This is It." Until you get to the cover of the Alice in Chains song "Down in a Hole." Nothing light and breezy about this song-think Johnny Cash singing "Hurt." Adams' version is so good, you can hear and feel the devastation, even close your eyes and conjure up a vision of the broken man-perhaps because he was that man. And because it comes right in the middle of the cd, so unexpected, it just about took my breath away. I don't usually recommend a cd because of one song, but you are cheating yourself if you don't hear this version of "Down in a Hole." The rest of the cd is good too. Mr. Adams should keep The Cardinals around. They suit each other well. Go buy it. Now!
Customer Rating:
Summary: Follow The Lights
Comment: Ryan Adams & The Cardinals-Follow The Lights ****
Ryan Adams is the strongets song writer of persent memory. Todays modern Bob Dylan, Neil Young, or Paul Westerberg evern. The only person who can even compete with the man is Jesse Malin. Whether it is tender ballads 'My Love For You Is Real' or real rockers like 'This Is It' which originaly was released on his Rock N' Roll album but is rereleased here acouticly and subtly. This is some what of a taboo to rerelease a classic song from oneself but Adams manages to pull it off, and exceptionally as well.
The two new tracks 'My Love For You Is For Real' and the title track 'Follow The Lights' are brilliant. While the rest of the album is rehashings of previous songs. 'Down In A Hole' an unlikely cover if you don't know much about Adams. He is a alternate country rocker, yes but most don't realize his love for metal and punk rock groups like Black Flag. 'Down In A Hole' is one of Alice In Chains all time greatest songs, and Adams' cover strips the songs to it's core, making it even more raw then the original. A fantastic job in my opinion.
The Cardinals and Ryan Adams came together to create a fantastic Ep of songs for and increadibly low price. With this much great music for so little you have no excuse but you order it.
|
