Search - dada :: American Highway Flower

Andy C. (acdeasy) from LOS ANGELES, CA
Reviewed on 10/26/2011...

This is easily my favorite Dada record. It is also the most often overlooked (of the first four). I was already a fan when it was released - it was highly anticipated, and did not disappoint. It is their most confident-sounding record; the one where it sounds (to my ear) as though they got to do exactly what they wanted, with no commercial pressure. The focus is on the songs and the sound of the band, particularly the guitar (they captured possibly the best-recorded guitar sounds of the 90s). There are very few production tricks; the songs stand on their own merits. To say it was a commercial letdown is a bit of an understatement, and its failure led them into an altogether slicker and less personal-sounding direction in the quest for another hit (with some positive results).

For me the heart of the record lies in the unstoppable, incredible back half, though the whole thing is great. I'm not crazy about the song "Scum", and "Feet to the Sun" has paled for me over the years, but starting with "Pretty Girls Make Graves" I look forward to every song more than the last. The hidden gem for me, which sums up the whole record, is "S.F. Bar '63". Check out the rhythm - the drums are telling you one thing, the vocal phrasing another. If you get into that kind of thing, and if you like for-real guitar playing and original musical ideas, this record may be just the thing for you.

Solid follow-up to 'Puzzle'

W. D. Rupy | Mestrino, PD, Italy | 06/13/2002

(4 out of 5 stars)

"For the record, I give this 4-1/2 stars. Another fantastic DADA album, although the songwriting is not quite as consistent or strong as on 'Puzzle', but I'll admit i'm picking nits here! All the band's strengths exhibited on their debut, are here in spades. In short, another sing-along smash! You vill enchoy it!!!
(p.s. it's 'Pretty Girls Make Graves', not 'Grass'.)"

A good album -- but not as good as Puzzle

sir_isaac_newton | UK | 07/16/2002

(4 out of 5 stars)

"This is good album. Dada are a tight outfit that produce melodic, intelligent, original music. This album does not reach the sublime heights of their previous album, Puzzle , nor are the songs as memorable -- however it is still a very good album...better than most groups could dream of producing."