Call Upon The Author

I first listened to “Dead Flowers” on a long old train journey and as soon as I heard “Shotgun Wedding”, it felt very fitting for cheering up a gloomy day ridden with typical British weather- a definite good mood setter. “Answer in One of These Bottles” puts across a feeling I think every one of us has at least twice a month, if you’re annoyed, stressed, confused… Have a drink, and why not write a song about it along the way? Due to realistic contents alone this song was immediately in my good books. Caitlin Rose’s voice although strong has something very calming about it which i believe is enjoyable throughout the album.
The next track “Three Cigarettes in an Ash Tray” sounds dated, but in no means is this a bad thing- there are certain points the vocals remind me of Stevie Nicks- I can’t quite pin point why, but it’s a good thing none the less. “Docket” however Rose’s voice is much softer and the guitar similar to that of Carla Bruni in “Quelqu’un M’a Dit” (ignoring the obvious cultural difference) simply meaning it’s a lot more subtle therefore making you concentrate on the lyrics again, “all I’ve ever wanted is to be free”. Yes, It is another song about belongings not creating happiness, but it’s a lot more general and honest as opposed to idealistic and full of fantasy which pulls it away from the rest. As soon as I saw the title “Gorilla Man” I automatically expected something similar to “Apeman” by The Kinks, purely because it’s a favourite of mine, but how wrong I was. In all honesty the tambourine wears a little thin by the end of the song, and it is a track I’d more than likely skip often, but every album has one of those.
The album title track “Dead Flowers” Rose reminded me of a more vocally harsh Alison Krauss in her acapella version of “Down in the River to Pray” a strange comparison, I know but it just has something similar about it, i think it may even be the pace of he chorus and the obvious similar style of “take me down”. The final track “T-Shirt” continues with the tambourine, which I think I’ve just discovered I dislike, not just in this album but in fair few- well you learn something new every day. The song itself is more poetic and like a conversation or letter, which is lovely. “Dead Flowers” is an enjoyable album which I imagine will go down very well in the summer on the seafront; I would say chilled would best describe it.