Wikipedia

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
Studio album by
dada
Released1994
GenreRock, pop, grunge, alternative rock
LabelI.R.S. Records[1]
ProducerJason Corsaro, dada
Dada chronology
Puzzle
(1992) 		American Highway Flower
(1994) 		El Subliminoso
(1996)

The band supported the album with a North American tour.[6] The album was reissued in 2004, with bonus tracks, by Blue Cave Records. The album had sold 77,000 copies in the United States as of 2019 according to Nielsen Soundscan.

Production edit

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 edit

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic     [11]
Chicago Tribune    [12]
The Indianapolis Star    [13]
Milwaukee SentinelB[14]
Windsor StarB+[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 edit

  • 1994 I.R.S. Records Edition (Original Release)
  1. "Ask the Dust"
  2. "Feet to the Sun"
  3. "All I Am"
  4. "Scum"
  5. "Pretty Girls Make Graves"
  6. "Gogo"
  7. "Feel Me Don't You"
  8. "Real Soon"
  9. "S.F. Bar '63"
  10. "8 Track"
  11. "Green Henry"
  12. "i"
  13. "Heaven and Nowhere"
  • 2004 Blue Cave Records Edition (Reissued Release)
  1. "Ask the Dust"
  2. "Feet to the Sun"
  3. "All I Am"
  4. "Scum"
  5. "Pretty Girls Make Graves"
  6. "Gogo"
  7. "Feel Me Don't You"
  8. "Real Soon"
  9. "S.F. Bar '63"
  10. "8 Track"
  11. "Green Henry"
  12. "i"
  13. "Heaven and Nowhere"
  14. "I'm Feeling Nothing" [Bonus Track]
  15. "Little Insister" [Bonus Track]
  16. "All American Suicide" [Bonus Track]

References edit

  1. ^ Bessman, Jim (Aug 20, 1994). "I.R.S. looks to generate new movement for Dada". Billboard. 106 (34): 9.
  2. ^ Stephen Thomas Erlewine. "Dada | Awards". AllMusic. Retrieved 2015-03-29.
  3. ^ Weatherford, Mike (21 Oct 1994). "Dada's drummer comes home for concert". Las Vegas Review-Journal. p. 2E.
  4. ^ Whitburn, Joel (June 28, 2008). "Joel Whitburn Presents Rock Tracks 1981-2008". Hal Leonard Corporation – via Google Books.
  5. ^ 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.
  6. ^ Kening, Dan (4 Nov 1994). "dada, Thursday at the Vic Theatre". Friday. Chicago Tribune. p. O.
  7. ^ "Album review — American Highway Flower by dada". Billboard. 106 (41): 76. Oct 8, 1994.
  8. ^ Punter, Jennie (10 Nov 1994). "Road-tight Dada hardens the edges". Toronto Star. p. H10.
  9. ^ Monk, Katherine (3 Dec 1994). "Dada: a first word in coming bands". Vancouver Sun. p. C8.
  10. ^ a b Jones, Owen (26 Jan 1995). "DADA American Highway Flower". Windsor Star. p. X28.
  11. ^ a b "Dada - American Highway Flower Album Reviews, Songs & More | AllMusic" – via www.allmusic.com.
  12. ^ Kening, Dan (8 Dec 1994). "Recordings". Tempo. Chicago Tribune. p. 7.
  13. ^ a b Bacon, Scott (21 Oct 1994). "dada 'American Highway Flower'". The Indianapolis Star. p. E11.
  14. ^ a b Tianen, Dave (21 Oct 1994). "Alternative rock gets some smarts". Milwaukee Sentinel. p. E10.
  15. ^ "dada". Trouser Press. Retrieved 28 June 2022.
  16. ^ Jenkins, Mark (18 Nov 1994). "Dada Mixes Musical Styles". The Washington Post. p. N17.
  17. ^ Sculley, Alan (27 Oct 1994). "DADA: A BAND THAT LIVES UP TO ITS REPUTATION". Calendar. St. Louis Post-Dispatch. p. 7.
  18. ^ Bream, Jon (30 Nov 1994). "ROCK the HALLS". Star Tribune. p. 1E.
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