Sunday, May 17, 2009

The Thorns - - 2003 - Sony Records





this is a bit different than my usual postings , but still pretty obscure & is transferred from wax still !
shawn mullins , pete droge & matthew sweet together for the CSNY in modern times.
in fact any fan of Crosby, Stills & Nash ,The Byrds , America , Bread , George Harrison , or Tom Petty will dig this one !
killer harmonies & songs. i really love this lp , its a real grower. dont listen to the naysayers , these songs are epic & timeless.

aka`



The history of rock is scattered with the wreckage of supergroups who turned out to be less than super (and one or two who turned out OK). The Thorns were built in the tradition of the supergroup, though the members are actually less than superstars. Two of the three Thorns, Pete Droge and Shawn Mullins, are best known as one-hit wonders (1994's "If You Don't Love Me, I'll Kill Myself" and 1998's "Lullaby," respectively), while the third, Matthew Sweet, has had a career with one great album (1991's Girlfriend) and a few uneven ones. From their soaring vocal harmonies, chiming guitars, classic rock songs, and plaintive lead vocals, the obvious comparison to make is that the Thorns are a junior-league Crosby, Stills & Nash or a more earnest Traveling Wilburys (with whom they share drummer Jim Keltner). Indeed, comparisons to classic rock acts come easily: America, the Beach Boys, Bread, Crosby, Stills & Nash (no Young), Fleetwood Mac, the Jayhawks (whose "Blue" the band does a near note-perfect cover of on the album), and Tom Petty are clearly influential. The Petty comparison is particularly useful because over half the songs on The Thorns sound like they could have shown up on a recent Tom Petty album. "Long Sweet Summer Ground," "No Blue Sky," and especially "Runaway Feeling" have the straight-ahead, chunky rhythm of late-period Petty, as well as the chiming guitars and, above all, the drawled, laconic vocals (Droge at times sounds like he's channeling Petty's voice). That reliance on late-period Petty gets wearying, and it sounds at times like the threesome were more interested in replicating a classic rock band than producing any classic tracks. The most successful songs are those that either embrace their influences so fully that they become glorious reproductions or those that dispense with the idol worship altogether. In the first category is "Think It Over," a sure hit for CSN or America if they had recorded it in the late '60s or early '70s that glides along on lush harmonies and a resigned yet hopeful lead vocal, underpinned by a graceful back-porch rhythm and some Beach Boys-style bass harmonica. It also benefits from what many of the songs here lack, a memorable melody. In the second category are two Sweet songs that venture to interesting places outside the group's somewhat restricted sound. "Thorns" is a fun and bouncy garage rocker that has a bit of attitude and fun; the backing vocals are a real kick. "Now I Know" is a near a cappella song with the group vocals backed by restrained strings. The harmonies, as they are throughout the entire record, are beautiful, and the song is quite affecting and unique. The Thorns have a warm and inviting sound, with entrancing harmonies, but too often there's no substance behind the sound. In fact, despite the good songs and decent performances, it's difficult to escape that classic letdown-by-a-super(ish)group-again feeling.

The Thorns - - 2003 - Sony Records - MP3 @ 320 kbps
ALL TRAX FROM WAX

1. Runaway Feeling
2. I Can't Remember
3. Blue
4. Think It Over
5. Thorns
6. No Blue Sky
7. Now I Know
8. Dragonfly
9. Long, Sweet Summer Night
10. I Told You


DOWNLOAD : -- HERE --

18 comments:

Anonymous said...

Hi Akashaman
Just read your comments in Red Telephone, about thankless people not leaving comments, maybe people have simply lost the need for mutual respect.

Now that I have found your blog and bookmarked it I will browse a little and see, and comment on your blog.
I recall the days when each little town had their two or three record shops where you could spend an hour or two and leave with some little gem, blogs like yours remind me of those halcyon days.
From sunny Scotland thank you in anticipation.
Cy

Anonymous said...

This is to say I posted a comment today on New England download, but don't know if your read old postings, thanks here too.
Cy

Anonymous said...

Hi and bye for now:
I wasn't going to take this but your blurb convinces me to give it a try. I have enjoyed this first visit to your site and thanks for all the effort you are putting in. Keep these promised postings rolling.
I'll be back,
Cy

Anonymous said...

I'm leaving your blog for today, I'll be back. Keep on keeping on.
Some album links I'm looking for are:
1) United Sons of America, 'Greetings from U.S.A.'
2) The Bruce MacKay solo on Esp disc with Half Masted Schooner on it.
Aka, can you help, or anyone out there?

Thanks again for the downloads
Cy

Swyrm said...

Not only are you posting some great music but your comments on them are equally great. Thank you!

Musik Masta said...

thanks a bunch!

Audentity said...

Thanks for the wax!

Jay Ess said...

This rocks--thanks!

Tucker(tje) said...

Thanks! :)

allman said...

nice post...thx

Anonymous said...

I'm a fan of all the 70s country rock, CSN type stuff (also singer-songwriters) and I've been looking for this for a while, having loved the single. Thanks Akashaman!!

akashaman said...

GLAD SOME OF YOU ARE DIGGIN ON THIS , IT IS EPIC !
AKA

Anonymous said...

ohhh

akashaman said...

whats with all the GD viagra spam posts ? its gettin` old folks !!!!!!
stop it already or i`ll send you a nasty virus !

Anonymous said...

glad i found your blog and thanx a many for your dedication to da music.
simply great stuff.

vitus

Anonymous said...

Thanks for the dl this ones getting hard to find, Skynlynyrd

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Anonymous said...

Great album, thank you

Math