Customer Reviews
Excellent 
2008-10-06
Excellent EP - These songs are great, and this EP is even better than Easy Tiger, which was released not too long before this. I'm a big Alice in Chains fan, so the cover of Down in a Hole was great for me.
Every other song on the album is excellent, highly recommended.
Reworking of previous efforts.... 
2008-08-28
I am a huge Ryan Adams fan, so lets get that out of the way.
Follow The Lights is less a Ryan Adams album and more of a Cardinals project. Previously released Ryan Adams songs such as "This is It", "If I am a Stranger", and "Dear John" have all been re-arranged to fit in with the band.
The songs are tighter, sound better, but I have to say that I kind of like the original takes just because they captured a state of mind. If this is your first experience with the tunes, I am going to guess you will prefer these versions.
Adams has a gem with the Cardinals and hopes he keeps the band personnel stable and stays with the concept of having a backing band. It suits him.
Ryan Adams does it again. 2008-03-05
Like many fans, I was awaiting the box set release of Ryan's records recorded between the records and was surprised to find just an EP. I was also worried when I saw the music's tie to October Road, having never seen the show I wondered how it may effect the music. The end result, however, is a great one. With several new recordings, a couple covers and reworkings of Ryan's original work, it is enough to tie both casual and hardcore fans over until the next full release. I especially enjoy the new versions of This Is It and If I Am A Stranger. The band is hitting a real stride and if you haven't been a long time fan this is the perfect place to start and wet your appetite for one of today's most prolific singer/songwriters.
Ideal EP 2008-02-22
A biased review because of my long time fanship of Ryan but he has put together a wonderful EP. It mixes new with restructured old and another fantastic cover. I am not a huge cover fan but when an artist takes a song and turns it on its head then it is worth it. I usually decry most of Hollywood and the modern music scene for not being original and remaking everything that has been done before but his renditions are so different. Buy it, it is great.
I am a Fan but I don't find this to be essential... 2008-02-17
I love the music of Ryan Adams but this little CD is more or less a side dish compared to the main entrees of his other works. "Dear John" without Norah Jones and "If I am a Stranger" are highlights (I don't mind ol' Norah but it's nice to hear how the song might be without her).
For the price, well, it's a good price. If you're a fan, definitely pick it up. I did. I don't regret it but of all his CDs I have, it's the one I put on at rare times - which is not bad, comparatively speaking, I don't own Rock N'Roll and don't plan to purchase it in the near future. ("If I Am Stranger" - I think is my favourite track...I love the acoustic rendering...)
If you're new to Ryan Adams, start with Gold and work your way around, feel it out, if you prefer the alt-country (Cold Roses, Jacksonville City Lights) aspects or the folk-rock n'roller (Heartbreaker, 29, Love is Hell). This CD is not the best place to start. It's the kind of CD you want because you are a fan but if you could live without it, you would.
Turn on the lights! 2008-02-03
Follow The Lights contains seven stellar tracks. Two completely new songs ("Follow The Lights" and "My Love For You Is Real") specifically recorded for the ABC TV show October Road. The additional five tracks are re-imaginings recorded live in the studio with The Cardinals. A whole lotta great music for a very little price.
Follow The Lights 
2008-01-20
Ryan Adams & The Cardinals-Follow The Lights ****
Ryan Adams is the strongets song writer of persent memory. Todays modern Bob Dylan, Neil Young, or Paul Westerberg evern. The only person who can even compete with the man is Jesse Malin. Whether it is tender ballads 'My Love For You Is Real' or real rockers like 'This Is It' which originaly was released on his Rock N' Roll album but is rereleased here acouticly and subtly. This is some what of a taboo to rerelease a classic song from oneself but Adams manages to pull it off, and exceptionally as well.
The two new tracks 'My Love For You Is For Real' and the title track 'Follow The Lights' are brilliant. While the rest of the album is rehashings of previous songs. 'Down In A Hole' an unlikely cover if you don't know much about Adams. He is a alternate country rocker, yes but most don't realize his love for metal and punk rock groups like Black Flag. 'Down In A Hole' is one of Alice In Chains all time greatest songs, and Adams' cover strips the songs to it's core, making it even more raw then the original. A fantastic job in my opinion.
The Cardinals and Ryan Adams came together to create a fantastic Ep of songs for and increadibly low price. With this much great music for so little you have no excuse but you order it.
Ryan Adams -- awesome as always 2008-01-17
A great CD for die-hard or new Ryan Adams fans. Love the title track! The reworked versions of Dear John and This Is It are incredible. Love the Alice In Chains cover too. Really is a great treat for any Ryan Adams junkie.
Ryan Adams...Happy 2007-12-31
To begin with, if you are thinking about buying this disc, don't think about it in terms of a cd. Think of it more in terms of a single. That being said, it is a much better deal for 6.00 than most singles, for all that most of it merely contains live versions of his new singles. While it is interesting to hear how "Dear John" plays as a solo, that is not really going to be the reason one buys this cd. That being said, this cd would be worth the 6.00 even if it only contained the two new, original tracks, because it finds Ryan taking his music in a newer, happier direction.
A Ryan Adams album WITHOUT filler 2007-12-12
Five Stars because I think this is a great EP. If you like Ryan Adams and the Cardinals, then Follow the Lights will be the best EP you bought so far from any band you listen to. Sure, the meat of the ep are covers and re-recorded material, but these 7 songs collectively play just like an album. Even if you already own the original versions of This is It, If I am a Stranger and Dear John, these new recorded versions sound refreshing. The two cover songs, one of them Down in a Hole by Alice and Chains, sound like Ryan Adams and the Cardinals songs.
Let's face it, if you are a Ryan Adams fan, you already know that there are a couple full-length albums he released that would have only 7 tracks worthy of future replay. In my opinion, this EP sounds like a Ryan Adams album without filler.
