The latest offering from the prodigious Ryan Adams, "Easy Tiger," is a warning to slow down. Adams has been trying to kick a much publicized alcohol and drug habit, though the title just as easily refers to his output (he released three albums in 2005 alone).
This cohesive, even collection of 13 songs suggests an Adams different from the one whose frequent lack of self-editing lead to very uneven albums like "Demolition" and "29." "Easy Tiger" brings to mind earlier albums like "Heartbreaker" and "Gold," that saw him poised to make a breakthrough into mainstream success at the beginning of the decade.
Though an improvement over Adam's last two releases, "Easy Tiger" still fails to meet the lofty heights of the transcendent "Cold Roses" from 2005. There are no obvious standouts, nor are there any stinkers. Highlights are the album's first single, a wistful duet with Sheryl Crow on "Two," and "Everybody Knows," which features the strong vocals typical of his fresh focus. At the least, it seems that Adams has managed to slow down enough to put together a satisfying collection of roots rock.