Hothouse Flowers

Polygram released this promotional record to build on the hype that had surrounded the Flowers' first album, People. Ironically, it's a good example of why these Irishmen were not destined to fulfill the predictions that they would be the next U2. While their studio albums have attempted to give their music a radio-friendly pop/rock finish, these stripped-down arrangements reveal the two (less radio-friendly) genres that lie at the heart of their music: folk and soul. Half of the tracks are manic, sax-heavy '70s soul numbers. The other half shows the Flowers at their best: doing acoustic folk jams with all the freshness and spontaneity of their street performances (which they now do under the name "Benzini Brothers" to avoid unmanageable crowds). On "Big Fat Heart" and "Don't Go," lead singer Liam O'Maonlai tosses diction to the wind in his exuberance, and the band can barely contain its joy in making music. This unrestrained enthusiasm is central to the Flowers' magnetism, but it's also basically incompatible with the polish that is a requisite for Billboard success. ~ Darryl Cater, All Music Guide