LemonMelon

Rock N' Roll is like his version of Pop. He's trying to disown it, but it's too late; the fans dig it.

Easy Tiger is a killer, for sure. Heartbreaker fans will swoon. Actually, I like it more than Heartbreaker so far.

joyfulgirl

Crap. TWO Denver dates that I can't make. He needs to get his ass to NM already. He hasn't played here since 1998 and I'm getting a little annoyed.

impy13

Is it too early for me to brand this the most disappointing album of the year?

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BonoVoxSupastar

Yes. It's already changed drastically on my second listen...

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Why is it that the one's with the most closed minds have the most opened mouths?

joyfulgirl

I guess it takes two when it used to take only one.

BonoVoxSupastar

Niiiiiice. High five.


Actually Ryan is one of those musicans that many albums grow on me with time, Jacksonville is a big example of that, I shelved it for awhile after I bought it and now it's one of my faves...

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elevation2u

most diappointing album this year?

you're in the wrong thread impy, this isn't
the cassadaga thread

impy13

Lime Tree itself is better than anything on Easy Tiger.

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BonoVoxSupastar

So true...

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Why is it that the one's with the most closed minds have the most opened mouths?

Bonochick

I'm liking it more with each listen.

Here's my song-by-song opinion:

“Goodnight Rose”

My first listen of this song made me nervous for the whole album. The vocals were just not doing it for me. I think it just caught me off guard though, because a few more listens has me not even really thinking about it. It’s really bright and uplifting, an interesting way to start.

“Two”

I love this song, and I knew I would because I’d already been obsessing over it on MySpace (hello, profile song!). The lines “I’ve got a really good heart/I just can’t catch a break” stand out to me, one of my favorite album moments. It’s been pushed so much that this song features Sheryl Crow, but, no offense to her, I don’t feel like she adds anything to it. I kind of wish it was just Ryan. It’s a beautiful song though, one of my favorites.

“Everybody Knows”

I was also familiar with this song because I heard it on a Paste sampler, so I already knew I liked it. It’s another gorgeous track, strong but gentle. I think it fits perfectly with “Two”, and I think the vocals on both tracks are lovely.

“Halloweenhead”

The one rocker on the album! It’s kind of nice to have a little change of pace. This was one of the highlights of the show I saw in Detroit, so I was hoping it would be just as awesome on the album. I’m not disappointed. I think some people are turned off by the title, they think it’s stupid, but the song is not throwaway. There are some cool lyrics, and Ryan announcing, “Guitar solo!” is always entertaining.

“Oh My God, Whatever, Etc.”

Another song that made people roll their eyes when hearing the title. I was actually really surprised by this song, I was expecting something totally different. It’s very tender and quiet.

“Tears Of Gold”

It’s got sort of an old school country vibe, kind of a Jacksonville City Nights sound. It’s about death, and I can’t decide whether it makes me sad or makes me smile from comfort. I was kind of torn on this song, but I think the last verse makes it for me.

“The Sun Also Sets”

Pretty sure this one is my favorite, at least for now. This one really made me cry. The beginning killed me:

When you get the time
Sit down and write me a letter
When you're feeling better
Drop me a line
I wanna know how it all works out
I had a feeling we were fading out
I didn't know that people faded out so fast

Ryan, stop doing this to me.

“Off Broadway”

I am disappointed. This is my least favorite track. This song is old, it was played live once back in 2001. A studio version on the Suicide Handbook recording that circulates. I always liked that. Ryan’s vocals on that one were very delicate and smooth. On this new version, his voice just sounds strained. I wish he had just left this song alone. I also wonder if I’d feel differently about this song if I’d never heard the original.

“Pearls On A String”

I feel like this is the triplet of “Goodnight Rose” and “Tears Of Gold”. This is the most folk sounding song. The chorus reminds me of a hymn.

“Rip Off”

He’s basically saying that if you aren’t happy with him, he’s being genuine, so at least you got the real thing…you didn’t get ripped off. The lyrics are just so good, these especially struck me on the first listen: “I can see the tears so long before they know your face/I can almost draw the lines/But when you smile it spins me like a ferris wheel/Washed out to sea in your eyes”. Wow.

“Two Hearts”

It’s sort of mid-tempo country flavor. Once again, there are some awesome lyrics. I’m always big on lyrics, and this album is clearly a winner in that department. This song is just so Ryan, as hard as he is to pin down.

“These Girls”

AHHHH!!!!!!! I’m torn!!!!!!! This is the new version of “Hey There, Mrs. Lovely”, a song that he first performed live back in 1999. I’ve heard it on bootlegs, including a studio version on Destroyer. It was also played at the first Ryan show I saw in 2002. This has always ranked as one of my favorite unreleased Ryan songs. The sound is still the same, but the lyrics have been tweaked…sometimes for the better, sometimes not. He replaced “I'm the plastic three inch armies you destroyed” with “Like Matchbox cars you buy and burn in your backyard”. Noooooooo! That was one of the best lines! However, he also adds the line “These girls are better off in my head”, and that’s pretty awesome. There are lots of other changes too, but those are the most noteworthy to me. In conclusion, gold star for this song…but I still love the original too.

“I Taught Myself How To Grow Old”

This song kicks off with the most desperate, sad sounding harmonica ever. Wow. Prelude to a heartbreak. It’s painful and sad, and you know how well Ryan works that angle.

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BonoVoxSupastar

So far, 'Two', 'OMG, W/e, Etc.', 'Sun Also Sets', and 'Pearls on a String' are my faves, of course that will probably change by tonite.

The more I listen to 'Two' the more I think it's about him getting over his addicitons, whereas I just thought it to be a love song of sorts at first...

The only thing that's really disappointed me about this album so far is the artwork, although the ironic 420 on his calculater watch was a nice touch...

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joyfulgirl

After 4 listens, I'm kind of lukewarm on it. It has some good songs, but I'm not crazy in love with anything yet. Kind of how I feel about Wilco's Sky Blue Sky. Good, not great. I liked Two and Sun Also Sets right away.

elevation2u

pearls on a string, sun also sets, omg, off broadway are my favorite so far

i'm not feeling two or halloween head at all, yet

Bonochick

San Francisco date added:

Herbst 7/23

http://www.ticketmaster.com/event/1C...1&minorcatid=1

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Bonochick

Boise goes on sale Friday, 10:00 (Mountain time).

http://www.ticketweb.com/user/?regio...0&next=0&prev=

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