Wildflowers

Rate It! Avg: 4.5 (416 ratings)
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Wildflowers album cover
Album Information
EDITOR'S PICK
  • Artist: Tom Petty (See All Albums by Tom Petty)

  • Date Released: Nov 1, 1994

  • Genre: Rock/Pop, Style: Pop

  • Label: 143/Warner Bros.

  • Copyright: 1994 Warner Bros. Records Inc. for the U.S. and WEA International Inc. for the world outside of the U.S.

Total Tracks: 15   Total Length: 62:46

eMusic Review 0

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Jayson Greene

International Editor

Jayson Greene writes about music for Pitchfork, the Village Voice and other publications. From 2004-07, he was associate editor for SYMPHONY Magazine, where he ...more »

01.11.10
Petty shows a touch of grey, and it kinda suits him anyway
1994 | Label: 143/Warner Bros.

Tom Petty's Wildflowers showed the unassuming FM-rock stalwart looking a touch grizzled and more than a little rueful. As a result, his usual batch of acoustic folk-rockers comes touched with a graceful resignation that makes Wildflowers perhaps his most emotionally satisfying full-length. As a young man, all those "rock and roll will save your soul" clichés just sounded glib — he hadn't yet earned them. But now, when he croons "my old man was born to rock/he's still tryin' to beat the clock" on "You Don't Know How It Feels," you can hear all sorts of overtones in his voice — playful sympathy, wry affection, grudging identification — deepening the sentiment. It might be a cheap trick, but it works as well for Petty as it does for aging bluesmen and Shakespearean actors.

Of course, time has done more for Petty than just put a few authoritative wrinkles in his brow. The songs on Wildflowers carry more empathy and self-effacing wisdom than ever before. Could there be a more succinct summation of a certain kind of lifestyle than the one he offers, again, on "You Don't Know How It Feels:" "Think of me what you will/I've got a little space to… read more »

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Excellent Album

kmac77

How can this not be five stars?

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Yep

evilshaw

Some of his best work...!!!

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5 stars

SABluesfanGMK

Quite possibly his best work. Track #14 is amazing

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TP's best collection of songs

tromafiend02

Not a single stale track here. Most are mellow, folky tunes but he still turns up the volume for Honey Bee and You Wreck Me (easily one of his best, instantly catchy rockers).

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With age comes introspection

TheghostofLennyBruce

Tom Petty's work has been mostly laconic and smart, hitting the listener hard and fast, like a hit-and-run driver. He considered rock n' roll, his chosen musical genre, "disposable crap." Tom held no illusions of self-importance or grandeur, a characteristic that made his music fun if not always memorable. On Wildflowers however it appears a newfound maturity was accompanied by a heavy dose of perspective. Petty was not necessarily changing; You Wreck Me, Honey Bee, and Cabin Down Below were apt reminders of his musical heritage. Petty was nonetheless acknowledging time's effect, and therefore connected with his audience on a deeper level than in previous offerings. Songs like the title track, You Don't Know How It Feels, It's Good To Be King, and Don't Fade On Me, in particular, offer more insight than Petty had heretofore revealed. Wildflowers represents a pivotal moment in Petty's career, a moment worth experiencing again and again.

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This album does in fact wreck you

banomassa

Totally devastating album. Great acoustic tracks like Wildflowers are right at home next to rockers like You don't Know, You Wreck Me, and Honey Bee. This album proves that Petty can't be stopped no matter what he does. One of the best artists since rocks inception. 5 stars and beyond on this one.

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Great Album

EMUSIC-2008B5AE

I first discovered this album about three years ago, and from the first time i listened to it in entirety, i have absolutely loved it. I recommend this anyone who enjoys this genre of music. Tom Petty does a fabulous job of telling it how it is. One of my favorite albums ever.

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They Say All Music Guide

Under the guidance of producer Rick Rubin, Tom Petty turns in a stripped-down, subtle record with Wildflowers. Coming after two albums of Jeff Lynne-directed bombast, the very sound of the record is refreshing; Petty sounds relaxed and confident. Most of the songs are small gems, but a few are a little too laid-back, almost reaching the point of carelessness. Nevertheless, the finest songs here (“Wildflowers,” “You Don’t Know How It Feels,” “It’s Good to Be King,” and several others) match the quality of his best material, making Wildflowers one of Petty’s most distinctive and best albums. – Stephen Thomas Erlewine

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  • 05.27.12 http://t.co/5vw3loSm Congratulations to today’s winners! Enter now - http://t.co/865udZoL 2 days left and 10 pairs of tickets to go!
  • 05.26.12 Indeed! RT @SteveMac03: #tompetty See you in Halifax on Thursday! Can't wait!!!
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  • 05.25.12 Cheers! RT @Blaggards: #tompetty Cheers Tom! You make these here long roads a whole lot groovier.