Putting it all together.

As we approach the end of this decade and look back on the artists who have defined it, a case can be made for Ryan Adams being on that list. Since his debut in 2000, Adams has now had at least one album out in each calendar year since then, Cardinology is his tenth. His music has gyrated wildly at times between genres, but his discography traces a pattern of experimentation and discovery leading to a distillation of what works best on this and his previous effort, Easy Tiger.  

Adams first recording since his well publicized drug re-hab features songs that reflect the common emotions of many recovering addicts; remorse, patience, dignity and a much more positive outlook. That he named the album after his backup band says a lot about how comfortable he is with them and how important it is to feel that way. The first half of the album flows from the country-rock vibe of “Born Into a Light” through the gospel feel of “Go Easy” into the soulful “Fix It”, the flat-out rocker “Magick” and the U-2 like “Cobwebs.” From there he settles into a closing set of songs that can’t be as easily classified, suggesting perhaps, that this is the style the album‘s title refers to. Bringing together all the elements he excels at, he waxes philosophic in songs like “Let Us Down Easy”, asking for forgiveness while concluding that “some of us are strong, but the rest of us are weak.”  

Cardinology opens a new chapter for an artist who has lived hard and this new found sobriety sounds good on him. And while he may never earn the title artist of the decade, at least we know that he’ll be here for the end of it, which was not always a given.  

Listen for songs from the album Cardinology by Ryan Adams and the Cardinals all this week on Paul Shugrue’s new music show “Out of the Box” on Hampton Roads public radio 89.5  WHRV  Mon. through Thurs. from 7 to 9 p.m., Sat. afternoon from 1 to 5 p.m. and on-demand at www.whrv.org/outofthebox.