Lynn Teeter Flower

Maria Taylor

Product Details

• Audio CD (March 6, 2007)
• Original Release Date: March 6, 2007
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Saddle Creek
• ASIN: B000MR9ETO
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #65,897 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

The songs for Lynn Teeter Flower, an album named after a family friend in Maria's native Birmingham, Alabama, were written in between tours for 11:11. The collection reveals a woman settling very well into her role as a solo artist, peeling back some of the layers of the last album to reveal a more organic sound, one that resembled the hundreds of shows she had done all over the globe in support of 11:11over the course of the last year. She began her new recording sessions with Spoon's drummer Jim Eno in Austin, hopped over to Athens to record four more tracks with Now It's Overhead's Andy LeMaster (who worked on 11:11), and then ended up in Memphis to work with Doug Easley (Cat Power, Pavement). The record sees contributions from Maria's brother and sister - bassist Macey Taylor and keyboardist Kate Taylor, both of whom played in her live band, as well as Bright Eyes' Conor Oberst, who co-wrote and sings on "The Ballad of Sean Foley." With Lynn Teeter Flower, Maria Taylor is taking her songcraft to new heights, mixing together soaring guitars, bubbly electronics, feathery farfisa organs and sugary layers of vocals into the sweetest confection of an album you'll hear all year. Opener "A Good Start" is propelled by a vicious groove, setting the tone for an album more influenced by rhythm, very possibly the result of one of Maria's favorite hobbies: playing the drums. "Smile and Wave" weaves a bed of "Strawberry Fields"-esque mellotron with ribbons of Maria's rich voice, while "My Own Fault" strips everything down to a sparse drum machine, a dry electric guitar and a seasick organ mingling with Maria's lament. "Irish Goodbye" picks up where 11:11's "One for the Stockholder" left off, dancing in a place where acoustic guitars mix effortlessly with a crisp electronic beat, and "Lost Time," with its lone acoustic guitar, melancholy piano and plaintive vocal, reminds us of some of the moments that made us entranced by Maria Taylor in the first place: a voice as smooth and sweet as honey spinning marvelous, insightful tales of the world around us with much aplomb. As far as we're concerned, that's certainly something worth falling for.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars beautiful second album, March 20, 2007

By	Sarah Mulchand (New York, NY) - See all my reviews

Maria Taylor's 11:11 is one of my favorite albums. So I had was a bit worried Lynn Teeter Flower wouldn't live up to my hopes.
I went to see the Taylors play last week at southpaw in Brooklyn and this was my first introduction to her new songs.
To be honest, I am not crazy about the whole album, but it is growing on me.
From the start, I love the tracks "smile and wave", "clean getaway", "small part of me", "replay".
Maria's voice is so beautiful, her lyrics are precious, the whole experience of listening to her music is captivating and in a way, chilling.

If you have a chance, go see her play live, it is an amazing experience.
I would say definitely by "11:11". If you fall in love with that album, buy this one as well.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars IN it, May 14, 2007

By	bmz "music fiend" (PA, USA) - See all my reviews

The simplicity and gorgeous melody of Maria Taylor's music is not to be denied! You can really hear her stretching here, too. She actually SINGS now, as opposed to the gentle croon of her earlier music. I ADORE this disc. The emotional standout here is definately "Clean Getaway" OH WOW. "A Good Start" is such a LIFTING track, and it's title seems more than appropriate.
I would have actually rated this 4 1/2 stars, because i feel that the slight rap in "Irish Goodbye" is ill-advised at best. The dude has a clean flow, it just feels a bit planned, you know?
"My Own Fault" is another gem that comes to mind here. This album is much more focused than Maria'a solo debut, 11:11, another gorgeous slice of goodness. Get it. Now.
thank you Maria, for sharing your voice.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars hauntingly addicting :::, May 31, 2007

By	Joel D. Ealy - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

this is my introduction to Maria Taylor, besides the bg vocals with bright eyes.... and i don't want to turn this record off. i can just let it play and play and play.

this is a record full of atmosphere, emotion (but not slushy), and fun. it is fun and melancholy all at the same time- the record contains variety, but is consistent. folk to trip-hop. just good music.

enjoy. i am.

::: this is for fans of portishead / beth gibbons, over the rhine, and beth orton