Customer Reviews

Flower Petals

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This is yet another great CD by this incredibly talented group. It has more of a country feel than other subdudes CD's, but still has all of thier incedible harmonies and musical beauty with subtle nuances. Not as much tambourine, but some really nice mandolin playing by Steve Amadee, and of course John Magnie and his incredible gift with the accordian.

Let's start a music movement, purchase one for yourself, and another to gift! That is what I do when I purchase a Subdudes CD, and my friends who receive them are always satisfied! As always, I am wonderfully surprised with new music by the Subdudes. The harmony, lyrics, and instruments used to create this cd are outstanding, I am still hearing 'new' sound every time I listen. Yes, this particular album is different from Street Symphony, showing how truly multifaceted this rare gem of a band truly is! They continue to shine through their music, as brilliant as ever!

This is another great album from a band that always delivers beautiful harmonies, brilliant musicianship and and pretty melodies loaded with hooks. Malone and Magnie's lead vocals have gotten progressively stronger over the years, and the band displays a synergy that allows them to be the best at what they do.

Well, once again I am driven to listen again and again to this piece of work. The guys never cease to surprise me with their diversity and creativity. I love the acoustic instrumentation and sparse use of any filler. The words are those that would be used ever so naturally in a conversation. This is a quality that I find very endearing in all of their recordings. The lyrics allow the personalities to come to life of the characters in this story and in the 'Sho' Looks Guilty' song, sho makes you wonder! Is he? I'm still trying to decide, and am just completely lulled into their 'slowhand' groove with 'Wedding Rites' that reminds me how powerful their songs convey love and happiness to me! Makes me fall right back in love with my husband all over again! Their Redemption Dance song just gets my toes a tappin' like a good ole' bluegrass number. Gosh I love these guys! And finally the liltingly lovely and layered effect of the Flower Petal song. The lovely maiden still wondering. Hmmmmmm. I'd say that he loved her very much. We all have questions and doubts in our lives, dont we?
I do know that I dont doubt my love for this collection of songs, or for ANY of their songs! Thumbs UP!! Way up!!

All of the components are present for a wonderfully pleasing CD: incredibly talented musicians, beautiful vocal harmonies, lyrics both thoughtful and clever, melodies ranging from funky to soulful to downright mesmerizing - all intertwined to create an intriguing story. Guarantee you will listen to this CD over and over again.

I am a huge fan going back many years, and love the previous disk, Street Symphony. These guys are awesome, creative musicians who make the music they want to make, and they don't bend to commercial pressures.

That being said, I really didn't enjoy this disk. 'Flowers and the Fire' is a tremendous song and will definitely be a member of my ipod playlists for years to come. The Blacksmith Song' is fun and has a great beat. 'My Soul' struck me as a good song, though by the time I made it to track 13 I was tired of the cowboy ballad genre. Unfortunately, the rest of the songs are just a bit too mellow and dreary. If cowboy ballads are your thing, you will like this disk. But if it is sweet melodies and harmonies that you crave, I recommend Street Symphony, Miracle Mule, Annunciation, and the eponymously named first disk. Primitive Streak is also a great and much underappreciated compilation. Better yet, see them live. They do a great show, time and time again.

WOW, I love this CD. Been a DUDES fan since debut record following every record through the years. This record is acoustic subdudes in a western style. Like one reviewer said "don't listen to the negative reviews" This is great to see the guys in this kind of light, "kudos to the Dudes" for laying it back a notch ,on this one, in such style. If you don't believe me just go to YouTube and watch the full length video for "Wedding Rites (I Already Knew You)" and see these guys sitting on the couch with acoustic instruments THEN tell me this record aint great.

I've been a huge fan of The Subdudes since their first album. I've seen them many times in concert which is always nothing short of outstanding. I was so ecstatic when their reunion album, Miracle Mule, came out especially when it proved that time only made them better. I received this album as a Xmas gift from a friend I introduced to them many years ago; we've been to many of their concerts together. So I was ecstatic to have their newest album. Sometimes an artist's new work requires some time for it to sink in especially when they've stepped out of or expanded on their traditional expectations. Many times it grows on me and I end up loving it. Other times on the first listen I love it, like Miracle Mule. This album is The Subdudes all the way with what fans have come to expect of their instrumentation and outstanding harmonies but I was taken back originally by the consistent mellow tone of it. Okay, it's a thematic album, I get that but as some others have said about its "Cowboy Theme" I tend to agree. I have no problem with the mellow songs nor the "Cowboy Theme". What I'm still dealing with is the consistent mellowness of it which is not their traditional pattern but then again they normally eventually employ their "New Orleans Roots" to much of what they do which is a hard fit in a "Cowboy Theme". So it's the more up tempo songs I'm longing for on this album. There are some but not enough for the general feeling of their normal releases. I've only listened to it a few times and do really expect it to be one of those that has to grow on me because I do so love what they've done over the years and do expect that it will eventually become a favorite but at this moment the jury is still out. So if you're looking for the "traditional" Subdudes album you need to understand that this is their foray into something different which wasn't meant to align with what they've done traditionally but is still good in its own right even if it takes some additional listening to get accustomed to it.

For subdudes fans, this new release may offer some interest - Flower Petals explores a loose thematic scheme of a dead soldier in days gone by. Production is typically spare, and they do offer up some typically nice songs. This release feels like it was made as much for the band themselves as for the listening audience. Some nice tunes here - themes aside, for new subdudes fans, buy Behind The Levee or Street Symphony before this one. The band is so good - best to get hooked on their many, many gems first.

GENRES: Folk Rock, Mellow Rock.

BUY IF YOU LIKE: The Radiators, The Doobie Brothers (unplugged, were there such a thing).

MUST HEAR TRACKS: "Rose Tattoo," "River Road," "The Cotton's Burning."

Once again, The Subdudes have created memorable music that tells a story. If you are a fan, you understand. I never tire of listening to any of their compact discs. Nor will I stop seeing them in concert wherever or whenever I can.