Customer Reviews

Wildflowers

5 star:		(85)
4 star:		(26)
3 star:		(5)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

This is Tom Petty's finest album. He made it at a time when he realized he wasn't getting any younger, his midlife crisis work with Jeff Lynne past him, battling the end of his marriage; all those strange feelings were condensed and channeled through his songwriting, and the result was the magnificent WILDFLOWERS. It's Petty's first album produced by Rick Rubin (who had already lent his talents to the Heartbreakers' teriffic "Mary Jane's Last Dance" the previous year), and the earthy, crisp sound is a perfect compliment to both Petty's voice and his songs. The beauty of Tom Petty's music is both the casual ease he seems to effortlessly slip into, and the way his songs just manage to stick in your head. At first listen, you'll always find one or two songs that stand out, and certainly the others are good, but not necessarily great. But then, they get stuck. Try as you might, you simply can't get them out of your head. And it's at this point that you realize, all these other songs are just as great. And by that time, you realize just how beautiful the album is. WILDFLOWERS is no exception. The simple instrumentation (powered by Steve Ferrone's minimal drumming) hides the complexity of the work.

Lyrically, this is also Petty's strongest album to date. "You Don't Know How It Feels" and "Hard On Me" deal with the pain of isolation, the fear of loneliness. Songs like "Only A Broken Heart" and the title track are almost reassurances, like he's saying it's okay to feel this pain, you're headed somewhere better. "A Higher Place" and "It's Good To Be King" have a twinge of cynicism beneath their ideologies, while "To Find A Friend" and "Crawling Back To You" are about the pain of a relationship (the latter especially touching). And in "Wake Up Time," a very fitting coda, Petty especially confronts his age, with wisdom, reflection, even a little pessimism and wonder ("You were so cool, back in high school, What happened?").

Musically, while most of the Heartbreakers did end up contributing a lot towards the album (certainly much more than on FULL MOON FEVER), this is a Tom Petty solo album, so it allows for more creative arrangements, and plenty of guest stars. Ringo Starr plays drums on "To Find A Friend," the wonderful slide guitarist Marty Rifkin is buried deep in the mix on "House In The Woods," and Petty himself even takes his hand at lead guitar on a couple of numbers. There are a few absolute get-yer-yayas-out jam tunes, "You Wreck Me" and especially "Honey Bee," sort of the sweatier, swampier second-cousin to "Mary Jane's Last Dance." Petty would continue to record teriffic music, more or less with his fellow Heartbreakers, but he'd never quite reach this level of sophistication and artistry again. A must-own.

"It's just that Harrison on his own is a second-tier rock & roll figure whose best work is long behind him, and that's pretty much the case with Petty as well."

George's best work came out not too long before this and was succeeded by an equally towering achievement after he died. As for Petty, he's far shy from having one foot in the grave as a creative artist. Criticism is subjective, to be sure, but these comments are not only way off base they're offensive.

Dear Amazon,

Mr. Himes review of Mr. Petty's work is snarky and shallow. His characterization of Petty & George Harrison (two of the all-time greats) as "second tier" is condescending and uninformed. As a frequent customer who is a Harrison & Petty centric rock fan, it's a turn-off to read drivel such as this.

Tom Petty had apparenty put out a second solo effort,the follow-up to his honey of an lp 'Full Moon Fever'.'Wildflowers' has fifteen cuts,most of which carry their weight on the disc rather well.Tunes I found myself sort of tapping my toes to were the Petty-esque "You Don't Know How It Feels","Time To Move On",the Dylan-like "Honey Bee","To Find A Friend" and "Wake Up Time".Don't just assume this CD isn't going to be any good beacause the Heartbreakers aren't mentioned in the artist's name;this release rocks!In fact,I could see Petty including several of these songs in his live sets.Ever see Tom Petty&The Heartbreakers play live?They're not to be missed.Old fashioned well-written rock&roll,as with most Petty albums.A nice find.

This album came out when I was a sophomore in high school back in 1993-94, and I had a musical epiphany of sorts. At that time, I was aware of Tom Petty but this record broadsided me like a brickwall and suddenly I began to explore his remarkable musical legacy. More than a decade later, this album is still close to my heart and has guided me through various periods of my life. Simply put, this is a cd that absolutely no Tom Petty fan should be without. Some of TP's greatest tunes are on this cd-"It's Good to Be King" which has some of his most poignant lyrics: "I'll be king when dogs get wings, can I help it if I dream from time to time." Other classics include the title-track, a truly beautiful love song, the perennial live track "You Wreck Me", and also one of my personal favorites, "To Find a Friend": "And the days went by like paper in the wind, everything changed, and then changed again, it's hard to find a friend." I also had the rare pleasure to hear Tom play "Crawling Back to You" live in 2005, which suggests that it is one of his favorite tunes. The last track on the album, "Wake Up Time," an introspective piece featuring piano and strings, is a profound song that asks:
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"You spend you life dreaming, running around in a trance
You hang out forever and still miss the dance
And if you get lucky, you might find someone
To help you get over the pain that will come
Yeah, you were so cool back in high school, what happened?"

I guess we're all still wondering what has happened, and where the time goes, and if we make the most of the opportunities life gives us.
Buy this album today: it will change your life!!

I couldn't disagree more with Geoffrey Himes'review of Wildflowers (or for that matter, his assessment of George Harrison as a solo act). While certain tracks on Wildflowers appeal to the introspective and slightly sentimental, anyone who has been to a Tom Petty concert and experienced the crowd response to "You Wreck Me," would know that his rock & roll instinct is still completely intact and powerful. As a long-time Petty fan, Wildflowers stands out as my favorite work-if I could give it 6 stars, I would!

This album resonates with pure, uncluttered songwriting. As a musician, this to me is the pinnacle of honest sound and honest performance. Many of these songs can make me cry if I'm in the right frame of mind, and I welcome every tear. Tom Petty and Mike Campbells teaming with Rick Rubin proves to be a match made in heaven. Quiet songs stay quiet and are unashamedly gentle. Rocking songs let loose and stick it to you in the grand old Tom Petty tradition. This album is a must have for every music lover looking for close miking and true instrument sounds...something lacking in so much of todays music.

PREAMBLE RAMBLE:
One of the great sins of American culture is our worship of the new, the young, and the fad. When a man acquires a few lines on his face, we toss him away and burble on about his "best days" being behind him. It's true in most public arenas, but especially true in the field of popular music, at least in terms of media descriptions and corporate executive decision-making.

Yet, we're the same culture that produced Johnny Cash, Willie Nelson, Ray Charles, Robbie Robertson, Roger McGuinn, Chuck Berry, Kris Kristofferson, BB King, John Lee Hooker, George Jones, Bob Dylan, and Jerry Lee Lewis--rockers, soulsters, folkies, bluesmen, and country icons--who have managed to soldier on with aplomb and something to say (and a burr in their saddle) at an age when many folks are looking for a rocking chair and some lemonade.

Why, compared to those guys, Tom Petty is still just a pup, age-wise. But he shares a kindred spirit with all of the above, and he takes a backseat to none of them when it comes to talent. For any "reviewer" to call Tom Petty "second-tier" is a display of appalling ignorance and small-mindedness concerning music history. Tom Petty, a much-deserving member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, is one of the giants in American music, being the embodiment of a perfect fusion of Elvis swagger, Southern Rock soul, British Invasion zeal, and California acousti-pop dreams. WILDFLOWERS is one of the peaks of his career.

GETTING ON WITH IT:
Many cultures recognize the blessings and the wisdom that come from experience--from living life, taking the shots and the knocks, and coming away from it all with some good stories to tell. And that, along with a serious desire and ability to kick butt musically, is what Tom Petty brings to the table with WILDFLOWERS.

It is a work of great maturity and insight, but it is by no means tepid or dull. Written, sung, played, arranged, and produced with great passion by Tom Petty and Producer Rick Rubin, along with many of the Heartbreakers (at one time or another), this album is a powerful reflection of the soul of an American icon.

THE SONGS:
Listen to the wistful and poignant opening title track, and watch it pierce your heart from the get-go; it's a lovely, delicate, but strong introduction to an overall theme of loss, self-pity, and personal re-discovery and redemption.

Much has been said about the "joint" reference in "You Don't Know How it Feels," where Petty (much like Randy Newman) picks up the mask of a self-pitying loser; it's not really so much of a pro-pot song as it is a vignette of a lost man..."Let's head on down the road/there's somewhere I've gotta go/yeah, you don't know how it feels/to be me." One gets the sense that even if our "protagonist" has "somewhere" he has to go, he has no clue where that is.

He's still pressing ahead on "Time to Move On," albeit in a more urgent way; he's a bit antsy, as he says, "Under my feet, babe, the grass is growing." Next up is one of the great Petty rockers ever, the growling groove of "You Wreck Me," which clatters down the train track like a locomotive on fire, thanks to the propusive rhythmic assault of Steve Ferrone. I completely love the imagery of "I'll be the boy in the courderoy pants/You'll be the girl at the high school dance/Run with me wherever I go/Just play dumb whatever you know" ... that's incredibly good writing and says so much on so many levels in so few words.

The moody, ironic "It's Good to Be King," continues the winning streak, as does the sad, ELO-esque "Only a Broken Heart." These two tunes remind us that Tom hasn't forgotten the lessons of recording with the Electric Light Orchestra maestro, Jeff Lynne, in The Traveling Wilburys and on albums such as FULL MOON FEVER and INTO THE GREAT WIDE OPEN.

Other standout tracks include the bluesy rocker "Honey Bee," the spooky "Don't Fade on Me," "Cabin Down Below," the Byrds-like melodic jangle of "Higher Place," the massive buildup and autobiographical pain of "House in the Woods," and the heart-stopping beauty of the closer, "Wake Up Time" (one of the top three or four ballads that Petty has ever recorded). Check these lyrics:

You were so cool
Back in High School
What happened?

You were so sure
Not to have your
Spirits dampened

You're just a poor boy
Alone in this world
You're just a poor boy
Alone in this world

And it's wake up time
Time to open up your eyes
Rise ... and shine

It's almost as if Tom is addressing the sad man from "You Don't Know How it Feels," but in an understanding, non-preachy way...like a big brother shaking him out of his pitiful stupor.

As they were when working together with Johnny Cash, Petty and Rick Rubin make a very simpatico team. The sound is lean and simple, but by no means dry or dull. There's a lot of space in the sound; when there are orchestrations, Michael Kamen adds arrangements that are both the most sensitive and the most dynamic of his brilliant career.

For more interesting insights on this outstanding album, read CONVERSATIONS WITH TOM PETTY by Paul Zollo, and make sure and give a spin to Petty's newest solo disc, HIGHWAY COMPANION. One other note: Petty and the Heartbreakers released the soundtrack to SHE'S THE ONE, which was written and recorded hard on the heels of WILDFLOWERS, and it is certainly a "kindred spirit."

RECOMMENDATION:
Petty himself considers this one of his favorite recordings, and it's easy to see why. His songwriting was hitting new peaks, and he was surrounded by a strong supporting cast. The arrangements are simple, but rich and intriguing. Without question, this is one of THE albums to own from the 1990s.

In anticipation of Tom Petty's upcoming release of his new solo album, I was reading some of the background material for the new disc. In it I saw mention of it having been 12 years since Wildflowers was released. Shocked, I went back to my car, slipped in my CD, and headed off for a long drive to revisit Tom. Over an hour and at least 50 miles of Missouri countryside later, I discovered Wildflowers is still as energetic and entertaining as it was when first released. This is for me Tom Petty's most honest, unflinching, and fun album, and is a permanent part of my music rotation on every road trip.

Filled with Petty's signature 12-string acoustic, Wildflowers ranges from the breezy and scenic title track to rocking songs like You Wrecked Me. The vibe to the album is upbeat, acoustic, and rhythmic, packed with excellent tracks like Hard to Find a Friend, Time to Move On, Higher Place, Crawling Back To You, and one of my all time favorite tracks, Closing Time. The only dischordant note is Honey Natural Bee, which doesnt fit well in the overall album, but that is what is so great about Petty. He is not afraid to throw you some curveballs and keep you guessing.

Great albums stand the test of time. Songs feel exciting, fresh, and relevant years since they were written, and Wildflowers is a perfect example of a great album by one of the most underrated artists in music. This one deserves a place in your collection, and if you are unsure, pick a long road on a summer day, pop this CD in, and take Wildflowers for a drive.

A.G. Corwin
St. Louis, MO

This album, Petty's second solo billing, is somewhat of an artistic peak for the singer/songwriter with his musical and spiritual sensibilities and a mixture of feelings and emotions coming to the fore.

Rick Rubin's production was a refreshing change for Petty after some success with the Lynne sound was starting to repeat itself on Into The Great Wide Open. This change worked for Petty and sounds refreshing to this day. Rick did a terrific job on the Heartbreakers hit the year before, Mary Janes Last Dance.

Like that single, this album was well recieved, building on the attention and respect that Tom Petty was gaining at the time after many wrote him off as an act whose best was behind him.

The album went platinum three times over and remains a fan favourite to this day. It is fresh, inspiring, catchy, honest, emotive, spiritual, joyous and class from start to finish.

The hits from this album, "You Don't Know How It Feels" "You Wreck Me" "It's Good To Be King" are a great taste of what to expect on this album, and they recieved alot of airplay for Petty on both radio and MTV.

One song that stands out for me is the achingly beautiful "Crawling Back To You" it surely is up with the best the man has ever done. "Don't Fade On Me" has Tom and Mike, Heartbreaker guitarist, both on acoustic guitar delivering a somber and harrowing song that was different as anything Petty ever recorded.

There are catchy songs such as the shining "A Higher Place" and the infectious "Cabin Down Below".

This would have to be up there with Damn the Torpedoes and this and the aforementioned are the two records I would recommend to anyone who enjoyed the Greatest Hits.