The Thorns [ENHANCED]

The Thorns

Product Details

• Audio CD (May 20, 2003)
• Original Release Date: May 20, 2003
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Enhanced
• Label: Sony
• ASIN: B000094VMS
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars See all reviews (102 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #68,491 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com
If ever a group's moniker were wrapped in florid irony, surely it's this bright, buoyant summit meeting of contemporary popmeisters Matthew Sweet, Shawn Mullins, and Pete Droge. Backed by an all-star studio ensemble that includes Jim Keltner, Greg Leisz, Brendan O'Brien, and Roy Bittan, the three nominally insulated musicians don't so much claim the legacy of Crosby, Stills & Nash on the harmonic riches of "Think it Over" and glorious "Now I Know" as find a musical common ground that can't help but echo history in its folk-rooted vocal glories (although it's hard to imagine the baby-boom icons wrapping themselves around the chunky funk of the title track here or the pointed impressionistic allegory of "Dragonfly.") Yet The Thorns forges an ego-sublimating higher ground that's anything but nostalgic. Fans of the three musicians may recognize their various sensibilities at work throughout, but it's a rewarding collaboration that virtually defies deconstruction. Don't be misled by the name--this is a beautiful, musically fragrant bouquet. --Jerry McCulley

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars CA-style guitars and harmonies boosting some careers, May 20, 2003

By A Customer

Place Matthew Sweet in any vocal harmony situation, and the results are always lovely, even if it's with himself. Here, however, with Pete Droge and Shawn Mullins there's no comparing the vocal harmonies with Crosby, Stills, Nash and (sometimes) Young, because they've alchemized the CSN(Y) sound perfectly on every single song.

All mid-tempo, laid-back, guitar-strumming ear candy with a slight shade of Traveling Wilburys (especially the opening track "Runaway Feeling").

Harmonies on "Such A Shame" recall The Beatles' "Because."

Personally, the surprise gem of the bunch is the cover of The Jayhawks' "Blue," a song that always gave me goosebumps and The Thorns' version continues to do so.

In sum, if you love and collect strumming guitar pop-rock containing three-part male harmonies, you would be remiss to not add this to your collection while it's at an introductory price.

As a postscript, I should say I'm approaching this as a Matthew Sweet fanatic, and would like to point to his other solo works and underappreciated contributions to Lloyd Cole's late 1980's solo albums. No doubt this Thorns CD will lead others to the respective solo works of Pete Droge and Shawn Mullins, which, looking at it all cynically, is kind of the point here.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Thorns - Superb Harmonies and Songwriting, June 13, 2003

By	Natster "thenatster" (Shrewsbury, MA) - See all my reviews

This is my favorite CD of 2003 so far. This trio of singer/songwriters, Pete Droge, Shawn Mullins, and the brilliant popster, Matthew Sweet, might seem, at first, like an odd grouping, but they harmonize in the vein of CSN, America, and the Beach Boys. This is not to say that the album is a lightweight, throwaway, soft rock cheesefest. Standout songs are "No Blue Sky," "Long, Sweet Summer Night," "I Can't Remember," and "Blue," the cover of a classic Jayhawks tune, but really every song shines. PICK THIS UP!

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A gem, August 14, 2003

By	Mike G. (New Jersey) - See all my reviews

The Thorns' debut CD is one of those recordings that finds its way into your player, and then (happily) just won't leave. I came to this CD mainly as a fan of Matthew Sweet, but I have always loved Shawn Mullins' voice, and Pete Droge's wit. And, this is a record where the parts add up to a lovely, mellifluous whole. In a perfect world, where rock radio played songs based on merit and on that certain something that great songs have, "Long Sweet Summer Night" would be a touchstone for the dog days of 2003. But, perhaps the song that works best one the record (although there a many candidates) is "I Told You". Rarely has a song mined the depths of heartbreak, unrequited love and longing as well as this achingly beautiful tune. All in all, "The Thorns" may not change your life, but it is a gem, and I can only hope that the band is planning a follow-up.