Cardinals Regroup with Gin Wigmore

When the ever-finicky Ryan Adams broke up with the music business last year — he said he was suffering from vertigo — he made the friendly and probably sincere remark that he hoped his band would continue to play without him. Just months before calling it a day, Adams had said in numerous interviews that he felt the Cardinals were more of an actual band than just his back-up group and that, in the near future, he planned to drop the solo moniker to reflect that solidarity. Instead, of course, he dropped out of music altogether, leaving the whole solo career/music thing to his wife, Mandy Moore.

But Adams still gets his wish: the Cardinals have regrouped behind New Zealand-born singer-songwriter Gin Wigmore and the band will indeed keep the fires burning. ‘No Smoke,’ Wigmore’s debut album, drops on September 25 and it doesn’t look like the Cardinals’ name will actually appear on the billing — unlike Adams, Wigmore isn’t conflicted about her solo ambitions — but it’s them, alright. This isn’t the first time the Cardinals have quietly recorded behind a solo artist other than Adams: in 2006, they went into the studio to back Willie Nelson on his album ‘Songbird’ while Adams sat in the producer chair.

“The Cardinals — I am speechless,” Wigmore told the Australian music site, Access All Areas. “They have been a true inspiration to watch. Truly amazing musicians.”

Yeah, no kidding. Cherish them while you can because, knowing Adams, it’s only a matter of time before he calls, wanting them back.

Source: AOL Spinner

TinyMixTapes: Ryan Adams, Reasonable Man

From TinyMixTapes.com:

Ryan Adams, a Reasonable Man, Plans American Tour with Oasis, a Group of Sensible Gentlemen, For a Temperate, Exceedingly Composed Trip Completely Free of Big Egos and Even Bigger Drinking Binges. Honest!

In a recent interview with the tastemakers at Rolling Stone, singer, songwriter, and complainer Ryan Adams lamented about a recent comment from former Replacements frontman and far-better-Minnesota-Senatorial-candidate-than-Al-Franken Paul Westerberg, who said, “Someone should knock [the complainer Ryan Adams’] teeth out.” Mr. Adams, always glad to oblige the media with his incessant bitching, claimed, “I left home because of things like that. I can’t listen to his music again, ever.”

Spinner: Ryan Adams Sings With Leona Naess

From Spinner.com:

Ryan Adams Duets With Ex + More

Ex-couple Ryan Adams and Leona Naess harmonize together on ‘Leave Your Boyfriends Behind,’ a new song available now via stream or as a bonus track to Naess’ iTunes release of the album ‘Thirteens.’

Posted by Ashley Iasimone on Nov 7th 2008 10:00AM
Filed under: News Today, Oh Boy!

Pitchfork: Ryan Adams – Putting Out Records, Helping Sick Cats

From Pitchfork:

Awww, looks like my old pre-algebra notebook! That right there is the cover of the vinyl edition of Ryan Adams and the Cardinals‘ Cardinology, out now in the States from Lost Highway and due November 10 in the UK from Mercury Records Ltd. The first pressing of the wax finds the disc pressed into red translucent vinyl and accompanied by a download card (U.S. only), a bonus 7″, 17 postcards from the current tour, and a lyric book and limited-edition t-shirt both designed by graphic novelist Leah Hayes (who also designed the alternate cover you see above.)

Clash Magazine: Ryan Adams Bares All (Not Really…)

From “CasbahJones” at RyanAdamsArchive.com:

The new Clash Magazine is out on November 6th and features an intricate interview with ex-Cardinal, Ryan Adams. Interviewed by the chief editor of Clash himself, he speaks of new record ‘Cardinology’, his self defeatist attitude, his upcoming book AND, if that is not enough… Touring with Oasis.

Adams also lets us in to the secret behind his musical structuring, “I’m just observing the wheel and trying to make a new machine out of it”.

You can have a quick peak at a summary of this months Clash Mag here:

http://www.clashmusic.com/magazine/t…clash-magazine

Ryan Adams

The reluctant genius bares all

Once a man of many faces, Ryan Adams seems to have settled into the role of dedicated band leader. In fact, he admits, he has finally found himself. Unfortunately for him though, that’s come at the cost of some serious self-analysis…

Impact Magazine: “Cardinology” – “Not A Bad Song On The Album”

From Nottingham’s Impact Magazine:

Ryan Adams and the Cardinals “Cardinology”

Cardinology marks Ryan Adams tenth studio album in all, and his third (credited) release with The Cardinals. It is very much the musical successor to 2007’s solo record ‘Easy Tiger’, and 2006’s ‘Cold Roses’, each of which had similarly strong Grateful Dead influences.  Its sound is far removed from his debut classic ‘Heartbreaker’ or his only big seller, ‘Gold’. So if that’s all you know, you’re way behind.

Post and Courier: Adams’ Shows Maturity on Cardinology

From The Charleton Post and Courier:

SOUND OFF

Devin Grant, special to The Post and Courier

Thursday, November 6, 2008

Ryan Adams & The Cardinals

Cardinology (Lost Highway)

It is easy to joke about the more eccentric aspects of Ryan Adams. He drinks, he throws tantrums, he releases half a dozen albums in less than a year and in doing so, he infuriates his record label. None of that quirky behavior can hide the fact though that Adams is a musical genius who will someday be regarded in the same light as Bob Dylan and Bruce Springsteen.

Adams’ musical output as of late has been remarkably non-existent. This is potentially both good and bad for fans. Bad because obviously there is no new material coming out, but good because when he was releasing all of those albums in that short time, the result was six or seven mediocre CDs with a couple of brilliant songs on each one.

The Signal: Not A Bad Time To Discover Adams’ Back Catalog

From The Signal:

‘Cardinology’ fades into Adams collection

By: Chris Payne and Steven Avigliano

Posted: 11/6/08

Ryan Adams & the Cardinals

“Cardinology”, 2.5 stars out of 5
Ryan Adams, does the phrase “quality over quantity” mean anything to you?

The alt-country rocker has been one of indie rock’s most prolific singer/songwriters, but has sadly only provided listeners with a few duds since his earlier triumphs. “Cardinology,” his latest effort with his backing band, the Cardinals, does not immediately fall into either extreme, though it does little to stand out from Adams’ whopping discography.

Billboard: Cardinology Lands At No. 11

From Billboard.com:

Ryan Adams & the Cardinals’ “Cardinology” lands at No. 11 with 40,000. The prolific songwriter’s last studio album, 2007’s “Easy Tiger,” began at No. 7 with 61,000.

Read the entire article here.

The Daily Cardinal: Cardinology, Most Sophisticated To Date

From The Daily Cardinal (University of Wisconsin – Madison):

Ryan Adams thanks known universe for new, mature sound

By: Gena Rieger /The Daily Cardinal  – November 5, 2008

Ryan Adams’ latest album, Cardinology is his most sophisticated to date.

In the liner notes of Cardinology, Ryan Adams thanks only the universe, “for connecting us one and all. Consider this music a gesture of our appreciation.” Although his latest release with the Cardinals may not end up being humanity’s greatest gift to the cosmos, it will surely take its place as one of the better albums of 2008.