Fresh off the critically acclaimed release of Easy Tiger, Ryan Adams & The Cardinals return with a new extended play, Follow The Lights, released by Lost Highway. Leave it Adams to release an EP just four months after releasing a full-length album. I can’t complain though, this new seven-song EP makes up for what Easy Tiger lacked in intimacy and track flow.
When I received the advance copy in the mail I was a little skeptical of the EP tag when I flipped to the track listings on the back, as it seemed more like CD single considering the last three songs on Follow The Lights had already been released on three different, previous Ryan Adams albums. But it is in those reworked songs where the magic on Follow The Lights lies.
The EP starts with three songs that are basically extensions of the Easy Tiger album. All three songs, “Follow The Lights,” My Love For You Is Real,” and “Blue Hotel,” all sound like they could have been recorded on the same day as Easy Tiger’s “Two.” They are in the same alt country vain as most of Adams’ recent songs and are a pleasure to listen to but do not offer the exhilaration and drive as great, more recent Adams songs like Cold Roses’ “Let It Ride,” or Jacksonville City Lights’ “The Hardest Part.” These newer songs seem to mosey about, lacking the drive that even Easy Tiger’s “Two” had. “My Love For You Is Real” is my favorite of the first three.
Song four on the disc was a very pleasant surprise. It is a cover of the Alice In Chains song, “Down In A Hole,” written by Jerry Cantrell. On this track, Adams is somehow able to turn this grunge classic into an alt country gem, making it uniquely original. Much more unique and original than Love Is Hell’s “Wonderwall.” This is simply a great working of an off-the-wall cover choice.
Song five, “This Is It,” originally released on Rock N’ Roll, is a completely rearranged version with acoustic and electric guitars, soaring choruses and busy drums. I hated this song when I first heard it on the Rock N’ Roll album, but this newer version has made me realize that it is actually a pretty good song. Not a great song, but a good one.
Song six is a real gem. “If I Am A Stranger,” was previously released on Cold Roses. This new version was recorded live in the studio with minimal arrangement; two acoustic guitars, pedal steel and crystal-clear lead vocals. This arrangement takes an often under-looked Adams song and shows you how special it really is. The acoustic guitar work by Neal Casal is excellent and the pedal steel noodling, by Jon Graboff, allows for Adams’ gift of vocal melody to shine.
Track seven is clearly the highlight of the album for me. “Dear John,” was originally released on Jacksonville City Nights as a duet with Norah Jones. Let me put this simply, this acoustic, live in-studio reworking of this song is worth the $5.98 amazon.com is charging for the disc. This track alone. For what Norah Jones lacked in emotion on he original recording, Cardinals’ guitarist and background vocalist, Neal Casal, shines like he has never shined before. For anyone who saw Ryan Adams & the Cardinals this past summer on tour, you will recognize this version. It is basically the duel-lead vocal version they played all summer. However, this version puts more emphasis on the vocals with only acoustic guitars, piano, pedal steel, bass and drums in the arrangement. The driving electric guitars of the summer tour are gone and in their place are pure vocal emotion, gorgeous rolling piano (Jamie Candiloro), and perfectly placed acoustic guitar fills, not to mention a superb acoustic guitar solo by Casal after the second chorus. This is the type of song that should be played at funerals for really cool people who are named John. It is a pure goodbye of sorrow and perfectly placed as the last song on the disc.
This EP is definitely worth checking out. For Ryan Adams fans, it is a must for the collection; simply for the last two songs on the EP.
