American Highway Flower
American Highway Flower is the second album by the American band dada, released in 1994.[2][3] "All I Am" peaked at No. 27 on the Billboard Modern Rock Tracks chart.[4] The album sold more than 50,000 copies during its first year of release.[5]
American Highway Flower | ||||
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Studio album by | ||||
Released | 1994 | |||
Genre | Rock, pop, alternative rock | |||
Label | I.R.S. Records[1] | |||
Producer | Jason Corsaro, dada | |||
Dada chronology | ||||
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The band supported the album with a North American tour.[6] The album was reissued in 2004, with bonus tracks, by Blue Cave Records.
Production
The album was produced by Jason Corsaro and the band.[7] The songs were written by Joie Calio and Michael Gurley.[8] The album's original title was Backyard Fruit.[9] "Feet to the Sun" addresses suicide.[10]
Critical reception
Review scores | |
---|---|
Source | Rating |
AllMusic | [11] |
Chicago Tribune | [12] |
The Indianapolis Star | [13] |
Milwaukee Sentinel | B[14] |
Windsor Star | B+[10] |
Trouser Press wrote that "the sweet harmonizing on '8 Track' is notable, but American Highway Flower feels too long by at least twenty minutes."[15] The Indianapolis Star noted that "dada mixes a knack for fine pop with clever lyrics and traditional American guitar rock."[13] The Washington Post thought that the "eclecticism seems a little too labored, and Dada is more often clever than committed."[16]
The Milwaukee Sentinel determined that, "at their most satisfying, Dada reminds us of a Dire Straits for the '90s, thanks to Michael Gurley's artful guitar work."[14] The St. Louis Post-Dispatch praised the "several concise and memorable pop tunes."[17] The Star Tribune concluded that "Dada is full of all kinds of 1980s progressive-rock touchstones—from the two-part pop harmonies to the rocking guitar solos to the well-crafted hooks."[18]
AllMusic wrote that the band's disciplined use of harmony is a rare find in the alt-rock world, and continues to define their sound."[11]
Track listing
- 1994 I.R.S. Records Edition (Original Release)
- "Ask the Dust"
- "Feet to the Sun"
- "All I Am"
- "Scum"
- "Pretty Girls Make Graves"
- "Gogo"
- "Feel Me Don't You"
- "Real Soon"
- "S.F. Bar '63"
- "8 Track"
- "Green Henry"
- "i"
- "Heaven and Nowhere"
- 2004 Blue Cave Records Edition (Reissued Release)
- "Ask the Dust"
- "Feet to the Sun"
- "All I Am"
- "Scum"
- "Pretty Girls Make Graves"
- "Gogo"
- "Feel Me Don't You"
- "Real Soon"
- "S.F. Bar '63"
- "8 Track"
- "Green Henry"
- "i"
- "Heaven and Nowhere"
- "I'm Feeling Nothing" [Bonus Track]
- "Little Insister" [Bonus Track]
- "All American Suicide" [Bonus Track]
References
- Bessman, Jim (Aug 20, 1994). "I.R.S. looks to generate new movement for Dada". Billboard. 106 (34): 9.
- Stephen Thomas Erlewine. "Dada | Awards". AllMusic. Retrieved 2015-03-29.
- Weatherford, Mike (21 Oct 1994). "Dada's drummer comes home for concert". Las Vegas Review-Journal. p. 2E.
- Whitburn, Joel (June 28, 2008). "Joel Whitburn Presents Rock Tracks 1981-2008". Hal Leonard Corporation – via Google Books.
- Boehm, Mike (12 Jan 1995). "'60s Rock May Not Be Very '90s, but Dada Continues to Be a Delight in Diversity". OC Live. Los Angeles Times. p. 4.
- Kening, Dan (4 Nov 1994). "dada, Thursday at the Vic Theatre". Friday. Chicago Tribune. p. O.
- "Album review — American Highway Flower by dada". Billboard. 106 (41): 76. Oct 8, 1994.
- Punter, Jennie (10 Nov 1994). "Road-tight Dada hardens the edges". Toronto Star. p. H10.
- Monk, Katherine (3 Dec 1994). "Dada: a first word in coming bands". Vancouver Sun. p. C8.
- Jones, Owen (26 Jan 1995). "DADA American Highway Flower". Windsor Star. p. X28.
- "Dada - American Highway Flower Album Reviews, Songs & More | AllMusic" – via www.allmusic.com.
- Kening, Dan (8 Dec 1994). "Recordings". Tempo. Chicago Tribune. p. 7.
- Bacon, Scott (21 Oct 1994). "dada 'American Highway Flower'". The Indianapolis Star. p. E11.
- Tianen, Dave (21 Oct 1994). "Alternative rock gets some smarts". Milwaukee Sentinel. p. E10.
- "dada". Trouser Press. Retrieved 28 June 2022.
- Jenkins, Mark (18 Nov 1994). "Dada Mixes Musical Styles". The Washington Post. p. N17.
- Sculley, Alan (27 Oct 1994). "DADA: A BAND THAT LIVES UP TO ITS REPUTATION". Calendar. St. Louis Post-Dispatch. p. 7.
- Bream, Jon (30 Nov 1994). "ROCK the HALLS". Star Tribune. p. 1E.