Meanflower -- A Distant Episode (Offset Records / Planetary Records) By: Mark A. Lawrence the IV There are misleading things in this life, men with the name Sarah, the Long Island's at the local Chinese lounge Wan - Q's (they taste too good to be that deadly) and the Virginia based band Meanflower. With a name like Meanflower I expected to hear an angry voice gravel-rough from too many cigarettes but found instead a softly understated music draped on the strong shoulders of well-written songs.
. . . A Distant Episode, the bands first label backed album has the feel of energy trying to get through but which never quite finds it's feet. The closest we get is the track "Only Thing I Ever Wished For" with a zydeco backdrop that unfortunately remains too far behind the scenes to make a difference. The song writing skills are evident, but I feel the lyrics lose much of their power through their spoken-paced delivery. I found myself enjoying every other song on this album including "Time & Distance" and "A Place I've Never Known." They reminded me of soft Willard Grant Conspiracy, and in the same way, grows more enjoyable with each listen. This is good music to play laying in bed on a gray Saturday morning the trees swaying slightly just outside your window. Rating: C
There are misleading things in this life, men with the name Sarah, the Long Island's at the local Chinese lounge Wan - Q's (they taste too good to be that deadly) and the Virginia based band Meanflower. With a name like Meanflower I expected to hear an angry voice gravel-rough from too many cigarettes but found instead a softly understated music draped on the strong shoulders of well-written songs.
