Aware Records is rapidly becoming one of my favorite large label subsidiaries. A division of Columbia Records, its emphasis seems to be on the talent of the performer, rather than being driven by numbers. And if one of its artists (see: John Mayer) happens to hit it big, then more power to them.
The Thorns are comprised of Pete Droge, Matthew Sweet, and Shawn Mullins, all of whom have enjoyed relative levels of success in their own careers. They combine to employ a Traveling Wilburys approach to a CD that ultimately owes a lot more to CSNY than the Wilburys. That said, "Runaway Feeling" could be the long-lost Tom Petty tune you've never heard.
"I Can't Remember" features incredible harmonies. "Blue" is a Jayhawks cover. The artists here have decided intelligently to let each of their signature sounds shine through at different times, while blending their voices on other tracks to form a unique sound not heard on any of their solo works.
"Think It Over" and "Among the Living" make best use of the harmonies, while "No Blue Sky," co-written with Glen Phillips, may be the best song. "Dragonfly" is most like Mullins's solo work than any other track. The title cut "Thorns" makes impressive use of a Doors-style keyboard track.
The Thorns is a satisfying collaboration between three fine performers. It is yet to be seen whether this is a one off, a project to be returned to from time to time a la The Lost Dogs, or the next venture for Sweet, Droge, and Mullins. My only complaint with this disc is that it fails to use Sweet's vocals nearly enough--a gift that should be used at every opportunity.
4 tocks
Other coverage for this album
The Phantom Tollbooth 2003Reviewed by Dave SimsPlease don't call them a "supergroup." While it's true that all the members of The Thorns - Pete Droge, Matthew Sweet and Shawn Mullins - are solo artists in their own right, each enjoying moderate success throughout the nineties, none of them have exactly cut wide swaths of neon across the pop culture sky. At this point in their careers The Thorns have more in common with Crosby, Stills and Nash…The Phantom Tollbooth 2003Reviewed by Jeff ElbelAny parallels between The Thorns and classic close-harmony country-rock bands you care to name are merited, and that's a good thing. Think Crosby, Stills & Nash, or the Eagles as an early 70's Los Angeles club act, with the Beach Boys' vocalists guesting. That Matthew ("Girlfriend") Sweet, Pete Droge, and Shawn ("Lullaby") Mullins ambled out of their respective careers into this is astonishing;…Similar sounding releases
1999Lost DogsGift Horse
2005Patrick AndrewThere and Then It's Gone
2001downheredownhere
2002Bruce SpringsteenThe Rising
2002Rhett MillerThe Instigator
2000The JayhawksSmile
