For something like his 84th album of the Aughts, alt-country troubadour Adams got himself sober. Exactly how this affects his famously prolific output remains to be seen, for what he delivers on Tiger is akin to a collection of recent B-sides, a sort of Demolition II: More Demolitious.
The dusty twang of “I Taught Myself How to Grow Old,” “Goodnight Rose,” “Tears of Gold” and “Pearls on a String” might as well be Jacksonville City Nights outtakes, while “These Girls,” “Off Broadway” and “Oh My God, Whatever, Etc.” could be culled straight from the dreary, meandering subtlety of Cold Roses.
Unfortunately, what’s missing is anything akin to the sly warmth of 2001 breakthrough Gold. The exceptions are the gorgeous, increasingly frustrated “The Sun Also Sets” and “Halloweenhead,” a moderately rocking lament about the demons inhabiting his titular cranium. For the latter, Adams throws in ominous chimes, confessional lyrics like “Here comes that shit again ... What the f--k’s wrong with me?” and a shouted “Guitar solo!” for comedic effect.
Adams remains mellow throughout, but he’s not quite retreading the alienated sad-sack rut he’s been known to pace. His lyrics are confessional and intense as ever; his voice is noticeably better sans its former whiskey-raggedness. But overall, Tiger is the product of someone not yet ready to commit to whatever’s coming next.