Wildflowers

It is hard to believe that Tom Petty first stepped onto the rock & roll carousel eighteen years ago. Hard to believe because the best moments of his sizable catalogue--the perfect guitar pop of "American Girl", the faux-psychedelia of "Don't Come Around Here No More", the sharp-tongued putdowns like "Century City" and "Zombie Zoo"--have all developed a rare timeless quality. A quality that few, if any, of his contemporaries (Eddie Money, the Cars, etc.) were able to achieve. Harder, still, because in the course of his long career we've never noticed Petty gettin' on in years or becoming an anachronism. (kompletten Text anzeigen)

So it is somehow appropriate that on WILDFLOWERS, his second "solo" ride without the full complement of the Heartbreakers, Petty's musings fall predominantly toward his current role in the world. Throughout these reflections Tom Petty plays the kid's game he's been good at for years ("but let me get to the point, let's roll another joint" he sneers knowingly in "You Don't Know How It Feels"). More often than not, the future the songwriter envisions for himself is full of doubts ("Time To Move On") and soon-to-be-dull memories ("Don't Fade On Me"). This makes WILDFLOWERS speak in a far more subdued and wistful tone than most Petty records, creating a darker self-conscious persona.
Tom Petty understands that he's far too established to keep playing a rebellious, one-dimensional rock & roll singer. On WILDFLOWERS he attempts to ground this understanding in a purposeful existence.

Rolling Stone (5/13/99, p.63)
- Included in Rolling Stone's "Essential Recordings of the 90's."

Mojo (1/95, p.51)
- Included in Mojo's "25 Best Albums of 1994" - "...highlights Petty's oddly poignant pop writing which, though full of nostalgic resonances, sounds fresher than ever..."

Rolling Stone (11/3/94, pp.95-96)
- 4 Stars - Excellent - "...Petty's music...has always demanded a respect that no amount of wry humility could undermine, and his new album WILDFLOWERS proves no exception..."

Spin (1/95, p.74)
- Recommended - "...Petty has an evocative voice, and writes great, simple melodies. These are his strong points, and both are amply in evidence on WILDFLOWERS..."

NME (11/19/94, p.48)
- 8 - Excellent - "...the soundtrack for people who felt they were experiencing their mid-life crisis at 14..."