Customer Reviews

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5 star:		(3)
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3 star:		(1)
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This is Hothouse's second album, released in 1990, and it's really good. If you like the first one, "People" in 1988, you'll love this. Their style remains the same, soft folk rock with loads of guitars, but this contains more exploration into traditional Irish instruments, giving it a more interesting mood of modern rock with a medieval atmosphere. This is a more rounded and mature album than the first.

"Hardstone" is an exciting opening piece, promising a great journey into "Home". You have some pop rock with "Giving" and "Movies". Their best ballads to date, "Christchurch" and "Home" takes you to the quiet plains of the countryside. Then you feel like you're back in ol' Ireland when "Water" comes in, jumping to the beat of "Dance" and settles with a traditional Irish piece in the closing. Phew !

I kinda dig their modern folk style, mixing pop, ballad and rock with a tinge of traditional Irish mood. At times you can sway and dance to it, then you may lie down on the grass facing the sky. You'll really feel like home. You can't find this kinda music anymore. Even U2 sounded too rockish and now sound too poppish. This is the ultimate Irish soft folk rock album.

Should it surprise anyone that the best soul music of 1990 doesn't come from American, but from the Irish band Hothouse Flowers? Well, considering Ireland is the home of Van Morrison and U2, while we (America) got stuck with Mariah Carey, it doesn't shock me a bit. Home is a passionate mix of blues, jazz and soul - the rock attitude is evident, but the musical inspiration is rooted in American gospel. The bombastic and dynamic `Give It Up' has a sweet soul chorus that belongs in a God fearin' Baptist church. `Hardstone City' is a soulful rocker that would fit Tina Turner's stage act perfectly. With its dueling guitars and screaming fiddles, `Dance To The Storm' races forward like a stock car in the Daytona 500. The dance number sounds like it's from the Mississippi Delta.

Liam O'Maonlai (lead vocals) reminds me of Van Morrison and Joe Cocker. Like Van Morrison, he's a sensational soul crooner (Sweet Marie, Trying To Get Through). And like Cocker, Liam often takes his emotions over the top. There's such a thing as "too much" vocal gusto, and Liam's enthusiasm often overpowers the music. Despite his vocal excesses, Home is a captivating collection of arousing and convincing American roots music form (of all places) Ireland.

Home is one of the most personal and spiritual modern music you will here. HHF shares with us personal experiences from heartbreak to addiction recovery. Every piece of writing is loaded with Irish spirtuality and profundity. A must

I bought this album when it first came out in the U.S.--I was fourteen years old. Hothouse Flowers was starting to be noticed in this country, although their popularity here didn't ever really exceed just being noticed. "Home" remains a good album--not sensational or a must-have, but pleasing, especially if you're a fan of the modern Irish sound. HHF's first release, "People," had more of a uniform rock feel to it; "Home" branches out in some more eclectic directions, while still retaining HHF's rock roots, particularly in tracks such as "Hardstone City," "Giving It All Away," and "Water." Some of the more fun and interesting tracks are "Movies," which, in a calm way, makes you need to move to the beat while sitting in your chair; "I Can See Clearly Now," one of the few remakes I've ever heard that I think is almost as good as the original (here's where the Irish soul really comes through, aided by the piano and the saxophone. Another good one for this is "Give It Up"); and the lovely, ballad-like "Christchurch Bells." (Aside to tourists in Dublin: the bells on Christchurch don't really ring the time as the hours turn; apparently now they're on a preset schedule, so be forewarned.) Hands down, though, the best track on the album is the title track, "Home," which, if I remember correctly, was written by the lead singer, Liam O Maonlai, on a trip home after breaking up with his girlfriend. It's full of the passion and emotion you would expect, coupled to powerful music that really gets to the soul. This is a song the saxophone was made for.

"Home" (the album) could probably best be described as a blend of funk and soul, Irish-style. I especially like the diversity of sound on the different tracks, an improvement over "People". HHF lost some of its uniqueness in its next album, "Songs from the Rain," which is more blatantly alternative. Alternative music had fully established itself on the American pop scene just before "Songs from the Rain" was released, and it sounded to me like HHF was catering more to that sound than being original. I should say that lyrically, HHF is not a strong band, and if lyrics are your thing, you'll probably be disappointed with "Home." This album is about the music--and the music is worth it.

When times are slow in Heaven God, himself, listens to this CD to feel better about himself. This is the best band that never was... and it's a shame..

I love this HotHouse Flowers CD and lent mine to a friend and it disappered into places unknown. I was so happy to find it again on Amazon. In my opinion there is not a weak song in the entire CD. It also takes me through so many emotions from sorrow, "Sweet Marie" to joyous hope on the best rendition of "I can see clearly now" ever.
I recommend this collection to anyone and everyone!!!

Music for me is like a photo album - when I hear a song I can re-visit a memory as clear as being there again - this CD is great - cruise like, creates a great atmosphere - for me it is best played when mellowing out with a glass of good quality wine / high up on the balcony over looking the ocean during a hot summers twilight - I just adore it. Other artists I like are van morrison & ronan keating. Hothouse - home: is - "a classic" and "must have" in a quality CD collection.