Reviews

THE SHAPE OF THINGS TO COME
By Michael McDowell

CDs - NEW RELEASES

CIRCLES - Lannie Flowers
(Aaron Ave.)

Lannie Flowers is a man who personifies the familiar adage, "persistence pays off" in more ways than one.

The Kennedale, Texas singer/songwriter could easily have been one of the second generation garage rock visionaries who rescued rock and roll from the doldrums via the new wave/punk movement in the mid to late 1970s. He had spent a significant portion of that decade as a member of the Pengwins, who leaned heavily in that direction and performed live prolifically, albeit with little fanfare outside of their immediate circle.

Although Flowers pursued music diligently in the intervening years, his vision did not reach fruition until 2008 with the release of his debut CD, Same Old Story on Aaron Ave. Records, an Arlington, Texas-based label owned by former Pengwins bandmate, Alan Petsche. Comprised largely of snippets of unfinished works, Same Old Story takes its cue from San Pedro, California's much missed Minutemen, featuring as it does thirty-six originals that weigh in around one minute in length apiece.

By 2010, a renewed sense of purpose had given Flowers the vision for the fifteen tracks that comprise Circles. Decades of first generation garage rock inspiration and second generation garage rock perspiration provide a healthy balance throughout the proceedings, which seemingly vacillates between the influence of the Creation and of Love It To Death through Killer-era Alice Cooper.

To wit, C'mon Over is a straightforward, rhythm heavy narrative that paints a vivid portrait in much the same manner as did such noted Vincent Damon Furnier fare as Be My Lover (Warner Brothers WB7568). Both I Don't Know and Everyone follow suit, with a high drama bridge in the former and an extended denouement in the latter that each reflect such operatic-like opuses as Ballad Of Dwight Fry (from the album, Love It To Death, Warner Brothers WS1883)

Conversely, Turn Up Your Radio (an original, not to be confused with the 1970 Masters Apprentices monster classic of the same name on Columbia DO-9104) and the title track both pack the quasi-psychedelic punch of the Creation's Biff Bang Pow (Planet 119) and How Does It Feel To Feel (Hit-Ton HT300121). Flowers enthusiastically meshes these not so disparate inspirations into a cohesive package that treads the fine line between stream of consciousness and universal accessibility.

Decades of trial and error have taught both Flowers and Petsche the value of attention to detail. To that effect, Circles has been released not only on CD, but in the vinyl LP format, in both the stereo and monaural configurations.

A purist exercise in futility? Hardly. Given that Flowers has trod diverse ground between releases, it is apparent that this ongoing work in progress will diversify accordingly with subsequent releases.

"If hard times build character, then musicians must have a lot of character", he has observed.

Indeed. And as Circles underscores, Flowers' character reflects decades of development that has taken him Around The World in his search to bless Everyone with the fruit of his labors.

 

Luckily there are still some singer/songwriters with purist sensibilities like Lannie Flowers - The Big Take-Over

On the face of it, one gets the impression that traditional power-pop is becoming something of a dying art form; either that or it's becoming more an more ensconced underground as the years progress. 1990s stalwarts Matthew Sweet and The Posies still retain some of their visibility (albeit less than in their heyday), while cult-classic originators such as The Rubinoos and Spongetones soldier on. Luckily there are still some singer/songwriters with purist sensibilities like Lannie Flowers who continue to cut records in the same mold as some of the aforementioned. The Rickenbacker gracing the sleeve of Circles should give you a clue as to where Flowers is coming from even if the LP isn't a through-and-through jangle fest. Circles would be all the stronger if its fifteen tracks were pared down to it's most durable 10 or so; but ill take an uneven Lannie Flowers record over the work of 95% of his peers any day!

A Celebration of Power Pop - Broken Hearted Toy

Circles, the second effort from Texas native Lannie Flowers, is a 15-song celebration of power pop that's being released in CD format, as well as a three-sided vinyl record. The singer-guitarist, backed by a full band, creates catchy love songs that are reminiscent of The dB's, and tap into mid-1960s Top 40 as well. Flowers played International Pop Overthrow - Chicago this past April, and he'll be performing at Molly Malone's as part of IPO - Los Angeles on July 29th.

"Looking For You" is a guitar-driven gem that has the immediate impact of a hit single, while "Turn Up Your Radio" honors the bond loyal listeners have with their favorite station. Flowers gets some help from Delbert Raines for the smooth harmonies on "I Don't Know" and "Where Does Love Go?" which are tunes about not being sure where a relationship is going. On the Hollies-like "Not In Love" and the mid-tempo "Favorite Song," it's the guy who definitely wants out. The seductive "C'mon Over" is one of the more fun tracks on Circles, while the mostly acoustic "Just Like You" and bluesy "All Dressed Up" find Flowers succeeding with change-of-pace arrangements.

An effort overflowing with inventive ideas, wonderful hooks, and engaging lyrics - Pure Pop Pub

As far as Lannie Flowers is concerned there can never be too much of a good thing, especially when that good thing is juicy melodic power pop. While Flowers' 2008 release Same Old Story could be viewed as something of an oddity with its 30+ song snippets linked together like the second side of Abbey Road on steroids, Circles is a more conventional effort.

However, it is an effort overflowing with inventive ideas, wonderful hooks, and engaging lyrics. The title track is a full length re-working of one of the Same Old Story tunes and kicks off the album perfectly. "Turn Up Your Radio" sounds like it was recorded in Tulsa in 1978, if you know what I mean by that. "Around the World" contains my favorite lyric on the album; a tale of late night woe told by a fellow who realizes he's been had a little too late to enjoy any sleep.

The sound here is vintage Midwestern power pop with a little roots/Americana tinge here and there. As a result a song like "Where Does Love Go" sounds like an old friend you've just met for the first time. Is there a suggestion of the album being a little too familiar? Maybe, but the song writing is so polished you'll never care. This is the type of album crying out for inclusion on mix CD's. Taken out of the context of the album nearly every track would sparkle on its own as a little gem.

That's more than enough for me.

Grade: A-

Un jugoso y notable regalo - Muzikalia

Tras el esbozo en base a retales que supuso Same Old Story (2008), el segundo trabajo del norteamericano Lannie Flowers no incluye trampa ni cartón, entregando justamente lo apetecido. Una generosa, convencional y sólida colección de canciones empapadas en power-pop, bien trazadas y mejor interpretadas, para pasar un buen rato a pesar del excelso temario con un total de quince cortes.

La perfección y conocimiento del género mostrada en el presente álbum esconde un secreto que explica en parte sus aptitudes. Y es que el intérprete, compositor y productor afincado en Dallas ya ejerció su actividad musical en la década de los setenta y primeros ochenta en los grupos anónimos Dallas-Ft y The Pengwins.

Grandes melodías, elegantes y luminosas composiciones plenas en guitarrazos y una exquisita producción lo sitúan sin disimulo junto a consagrados estilísticos del tipo The Posies, Teenage Funclub, Fountains of Wayne o los desaparecidos Gigolo Aunts, pellizcando a su vez del alt-country de Jayhawks o Uncle Tupelo, y la new wave de artistas como Elvis Costello, Nick Lowe o Squeeze.

La frescura de éxitos instantáneos como "Favorite Song", "C´mon Over", la propia "Circles", "Where Does Love Go", "Rusty Circles" o "Turn Up Your Radio" hacen de Circles (2010) un jugoso y notable regalo para seguidores de las bandas mencionadas, que difícilmente se sentirán decepcionados ante un disco tan inteligentemente pensado y ejecutado.

Indiepop Irrésistible - Daily Rock

Lannie Flowers dit avoir joué dans les années 70 dans un groupe appelé The Pengwins, basé à Dallas/Fort Worth. Il aurait alors travaillé avec les producteurs et musiciens Rick Derringer et Jim Dickinson. Est-ce vrai? Difficile à dire. En tout cas, avec ce peu d'information, il génère autour de lui une aura de mystère. Ce n'est pas plus important que ça, car son deuxième opus le présente aussi comme l'auteur d'une indiepop irrésistible. Le lancement rapide avec 'Circles' pourrait concurrence Weezer, tout comme la pop au succès instantané de 'Not in Love' ou le numéro de piano doux porté par 'Everyone'. Lannie Flowers a toujours eu un penchant pour les riffs de guitare très nets et les superbes harmonies vocales. La qualité ne nous quitte pas jusqu'au final.

Circles is a musical love letter to the power pop genre from a first-rate player and songwriter - Daily Vault

Power pop as a genre dates from roughly 1964 and a certain mop-topped quartet from Liverpool. Since then, of course, its lineage has become considerably muddied and branched as new wave and hair metal and who knows what else have had their day, but the essence of power pop—concise, guitar-driven, energetic tunes—has lived on in the dreams of a thousand thousand players and singers.

One of those thousand thousand is Mr. Lannie Flowers, and he learned the lessons of the early masters well—or at least, that's the logical assumption to reach after a few spins with a disc that sounds like nothing quite so much as George Harrison and Mick Jagger cutting a side project circa 1965.

And yes, I'm dead serious with that comparison. Vocally, Flowers bears a notable resemblance to Sir Mick, pleasantly rough around the edges and sassy in the way he extends vowels and adds a little sneer to certain lines. His guitar work is a bit more varied, but it's eminently tuneful and on several tracks (especially the late-album one-two punch of "Everyone" and "Where Does Love Go") features the sort of extended, "weeping" lines that became Harrison's trademark.

Specific antecedents aside, at its core Circles consists of ringing, melodic, harmony-rich, traditionalist power pop—perhaps not the most polished or original I've ever heard, but that's really not the point. The point is, power pop is a genre that, when well-executed, is uniquely entertaining and uplifting, and Lannie Flowers is an artist who executes it beautifully.

As for the songs themselves, there are 15, of which 14 fall between 2:41 and 3:46 in length; it's the classic get-in-verse-chorus-verse-chorus-get-out approach, which just adds to the potency of righteously celebratory tunes like "Turn Up Your Radio" (which sounds exactly like you would want it to). To his credit, Flowers delves beneath the surface on tunes like the title track, "Around The World" and "Think It Over," layering his confections with a searching, thoughtful bent.

Interestingly, Flowers' affection for mid-60s Stones comes out mostly on ballads like "Favorite Song" and the aforementioned "Everyone," either one of which would have been at home on Out Of My Head or December's Children. The darker edge the Stones have often evidenced also comes out on simpler, edgy tunes like "C'mon Over."

Cliches do pop up on occasion—"All Dressed Up" opens with a reference to those time-honored staples "Fast cars and fast women"—but "Dressed" is also a perfect example of how Flowers counterbalances this tendency with strong arrangements, delivering a mid-tempo number whose coiled energy releases at the choruses.

One of the many neat tricks Flowers pulls off here is making everyone of these tunes sound like they were played live in the studio by a four- or five-piece band, when in fact he handles every element of these densely packed tracks –guitar, bass, keyboards, lead and background vocals—with the exception of drums, manned by his co-producer Matt Key.

There's something about the simplicity of power pop as a musical form that bands from the Beatles to Fountains Of Wayne have recognized as almost immeasurably potent. The combination of punch melody and a dash of wit and intelligence in the lyrics can be both powerful and exhilarating.

Circles is a musical love letter to the power pop genre from a first-rate player and songwriter. Two spins of this album and you won't be able to get these songs out of your head—and what's more, you won't want to.

This is an artist to keep an eye on - Riveting Riffs Magazine

If I heard Lannie Flowers' new album Circles playing on a radio station would I want to know who was playing and singing, so I could buy the music. You bet I would! The Texan has put together 15 solid songs that give you the feel of early 1980's rock / power pop bands of the era, without trying to mimic them. His influences flow naturally from that period.

This is an album that has taken far too long to reach our ears and that is not the fault of Flowers, who in the early part of his career formed the band The Pengwins (yes that is the correct spelling) who were a rock cover band with an affinity for the music of British groups and artists; T. Rex, David Bowie and Mott The Hoople. They recorded with the likes of Rick Derringer, and producer Jim Dickinson, who among other things also played with Ry Cooder and recorded with Bob Dylan. On Lannie Flowers' website there is a reference to the band being wooed by music labels such as, Columbia and Polygram, but a series of ill-fated tours or what might better be described in some instances as almost tours, led to the band's financial demise.

Those days are now behind Flowers and Riveting Riffs Magazine is firmly in his corner chanting his name to those who will listen, while the title song rolls off the album with driving guitars, a quick paced rhythm and strong backbeats courtesy of drummer Matt Key. The listener immediately senses, 'Hey this is something special.' This is much more however, than an album that relies solely on the instrumentals, for Lannie Flowers has solid vocals with a warm tone, no Texas drawl is present from this small town guy from Kennedale and if anything the songs have the feel of those British bands he covered so long ago.

"Turn Up Your Radio," which recently debuted on Twirl Radio broadcasting out of Sacramento California, is the type of song that the boomer generation should warmly embrace. Their kids who are tuning into the idea that mom and dad listened to some pretty good music back in the day will take these songs and party with their friends. Besides the fact that these songs are well written, sung well and played well, the best reason that radio stations should start playing these songs is because their listeners are going to sing along to these songs. If you are a music fan who likes singing along to a song with your friends, chances are you are going to request that your radio station plays the song more often and that is the future for Lannie Flowers' "Turn Up Your Radio."

If you require a reference point for Lannie Flowers' music a good comparison would probably be that his music is a cross between the Irish band Thin Lizzy, on the songs that drive a little harder and on the mellower songs he sounds closer to The Knack. At other times he comes a bit closer to Bryan Adams. If that sounds like we are bouncing around a bit trying to give you a feel for the music of Lannie Flowers, it is because the more you listen to him, the more you hear in his music, and yet he always manages to emerge with a sound that is distinctly his own, as he does on relationship songs such as, "Favorite Song," a metaphor for fond memories with a former lover. This is not a downtrodden vibe or a song of lament, but it is just wondering out loud how we got from being so good to being something in the past.

Flowers' expertise with crafting contagious melodies emerges again, as he sings "C'mon Over," a song that again showcases good vocals, backed by strong drumming and his own solid guitar work.

With Delbert Raines providing background vocals on "I Don't Know," Lannie Flowers serves up a song that pushes the calendar back to a sound reminiscent of the late sixties or early seventies.

The album changes paces with the tenth song "Everyone," as Flowers' plays the keyboards and slows things down, in addition to tracking his own solo guitar on the song, in what may be his best and most soulful bit of note bending on Circles.

"Where Does Love Go," "Looking For You," and "Rusty Circles," are other great songs to listen for on an album that really does not have any weak links. As we move deeper into 2011 let's celebrate the music of Lannie Flowers and the album Circles, because this is an artist to keep an eye on and worthy of you purchasing his music through his website or through iTunes.

Lannie Flowers is a new leader in modern powerpop - Bill's Music Forum

The 2010 sophomore release from powerpop artist Lannie Flowers is called "Circles", featuring a hefty 15 new tracks. The record follows 2008's "Same Old Story," which was the Album of the Year according to Power Pop Station. Lannie Flowers is from Texas and his first band, The Pengwins, covered songs by T. Rex, David Bowie, and Mott the Hoople. This 70s rock influence still resonates in his material today.

Lannie Flowers wastes no time getting to the title track, stacking it right up front. "Circles" swirls effortlessly down the ear canal, reminding me of the early classics by the Posies. Many of us can relate to the spinning-my-wheels theme of "Circles", which crops up quite often throughout the record. "Turn Up Your Radio" is another tasty nugget of ear candy, mixing the pop riffs of Cheap Trick with the taste of 70s bubblegum harmonies. "Around The World" is a glistening pop tune that boasts Beatlesque melodies with bright piano accents. "Not In Love", complete with hand claps, is an irresistible sing-a-long and excellent choice for a single. Once again, the lyrics touch on a topic we can all relate to – rushing into a relationship but regretting it before long. His 70s idols show their face on several other cuts: "C'mon Over" is bursting with Raspberries goodness, and I'll bet you'll be able to your 'finger' on the band that likely inspired "Where Does Love Go". Two strong cuts end the album memorably, the crunchy "Lookin' For You" and the sweet acoustic ditty, "Rusty Circles", which brings the themes of the record full circle.

"Circles" is a HUGE winner of an album. Sunny tunes, universal lyrics, George Harrison styled solos, and more hooks than a Bait n' Tackle shop - Lannie Flowers is a new leader in modern powerpop.

"Circles" is available now, and you can download the first single, "Not In Love" for FREE at the web site. Check out Lannie Flowers if you like the Posies, Cheap Trick, The Raspberries, or Wanderlust.

Lannie Flowers' Circles is recommended in the strongest terms - Musoscribe

I will readily admit it: I'm a slave to the jangle. Give me a dose of high-energy, upbeat powerpop and I'm yours (musically speaking). And that's precisely what happened when I popped Circles — the latest CD from Lannie Flowers – into my CD player. Double-tracked lead vocals, trebly Rickenbacker-toned bass lines, Revolver-era musical arrangement and a grab bag (in the best sense of the phrase) of sonic elements make Circles a fun, engaging listen.

Melodically Circles doesn't trade in a groundbreaking approach, but then that aesthetic is one best left to progressive rock. The melodies on this album all have a whiff of familiarity, and that's not a bad thing. Shades of 70s powerpop (The Nerves, Van Duren, Shoes) are all over the disc, but the more classic antecedents (the too-oft mentioned early 70s triumvirate) are clear influences too. At times Flowers sounds a tiny bit like a delightful cross between the late (Will) Owsley and fellow Texans Fastball, too.

Lyrical messages like "Turn Up Your Radio" generally force listeners into one of to camps. Either they groan and roll their eyes, or they agree and comply with the sentiment. When it's delivered as well as Lannie Flowers does here, I fall happily into the latter category. Anybody who enjoys the Spongetones or Tommy Keene (to name two) will find themselves nodding along with these songs.

If you dig this style, by the fourth track ("Not in Love") you might well wonder if this is a best-of collection; the exuberant tracks are that consistently infectious. Throughout the disc Flowers shows that he understands that the right amount of repetition is an essential component of pop. So while his songs never once beat a melody or hook into the ground, the do sink that hook into the listener's psyche. And that's a neat trick that's harder to pull off than it might seem. On Circles, Lannie Flowers makes it sound easy.

With the exception of drums and a bit of background vocal work, every sound you'll hear on Circles comes from Flowers himself. Yet the songs have that elusive live-in-the-studio feel, tempered with a careful (yet never fussy) attention to detail. "Around the World" deserves hit status, but then so do most of the tracks on the disc. It's not all upbeat pop; "Just Like You" is more of a moody midtempo ballad, but it's on less catchy than the poppier stuff. But more typical is the very Beatlesque "Looking For You," which sounds like a John Lennon spotlight number. And for equal time, the disc closes with the early 70-Stonesy "Rusty Circles."

On that — like all the other cuts — there's a southern tinge to most of Flowers' arrangements, so powerpop fans should be thankful we haven't lost him to the bland nether regions of what passes for modern country music. That said, anyone who digs Bill Lloyd (with or without Radney Foster) will not want to miss Circles.

For powerpop connoisseurs, Lannie Flowers' Circles is recommended in the strongest terms. The rest of you simply have no idea what you're missing.

Maybe the best since Matthew Sweet's Girlfriend - Way Off The Grid Radio

Power Pop as a genre has always tended to be overlooked by the critics and deemed uncool or dismissed by many rock fans as lightweight. Many doubt how significant it is musically, from a historical perspective, even when its proud and accomplished past encompasses nearly every great band of the 60's and early 70's. It used to be mainstream but today it's a niche. Great power pop was everywhere back then and it was the foundation of every great 50,000 watt AM radio station playlist. It would blast all over North America every night from every car radio until the advent of FM.

What does that have to do with this record? Maybe nothing, maybe everything.

Lannie Flowers is a power pop guy and Circles is a great power pop record and in 2010 that is something very special. Today you have to look and I mean really dig to find great power pop records but don't doubt they are being made and don't doubt this record is one of them, maybe the best since Matthew Sweet's Girlfriend in the early 90's.

Circles contains all the essential elements for a great power pop record including an insanely infectious hit single "Turn Up Your Radio" that is instant fun and would have been a massive AM hit in earlier times. If you don't find yourself singing along to its chorus by the end of your first play you need to check your vital signs. The opening track "Circles" is upbeat and sets the tone for the record as well as being an excellent table setter for "Turn Up Your Radio" that follows. The record also features a nice trifecta of excellent songs "Not In Love", "Favorite Song" and C'mon Over" all coming back to back. Overall this record is sequenced really well and the music flows perfectly from start to finish.

Lannie's vocals vary but they possess a subtle Lennonesque and Jaggereque quality to them that shows up prominently on several of the tracks with "Everyone" "Think It Over" and "I Don't Know" being most representative. The George Harrison "What Is Life" like guitar riff on "Where Does Love Go" is especially nice and appreciated.

This is a record you need to hear and is highly recommended and as we have done all of the heavy lifting to dig this up, all you need to do to enjoy it is buy it on iTunes here: Lannie Flowers - Circles

Un omaggio ai progenitori del genere

"I don't know where I'm going, all I know is I'm not knowing, going round in circles all the time". Periodo complicato, dunque, per il musicista di Dallas. Oddio, che non fosse un personaggio semplicissimo tendevamo a saperlo già da un paio di anni, dai tempi in cui pubblicò Same Old Story, il suo album di debutto. Disco dell'anno per Power Pop Station, consisteva in una sorta di medley tra 36 (!) pezzi tutti di durata inferiore ai due minuti. Progetto ambiziosetto e ben riuscito, approvato dalla critica e dagli ascoltatori, che dunque attendevano questo nuovo Circles pronti ad aspettarsi qualsiasi cosa. Ma Lannie Flowers, anche in questa occasione, ha preferito spiazzare tutti quanti, partorendo un nuovo lavoro che è un pedissequo, semplice, gioioso tributo ai genitori del pop chitarristico dei seventies, ed in qualche caso un omaggio ai progenitori del genere. Più pop with power che powerpop, Circles è un'opera fatta di quindici brani durante i quali Lannie dimostra di sapersela cavare anche con la forma-canzone spiccia, senza che gli sia per forza necessario indossare l'abito dell'istrione.

Quindici tracce, dicevamo, energia a mille, pochissimi fronzoli: tutto questo è Circles, un lavoro che dal powerpop delle origini affitta le propensioni melodiche, ma che nella sostanza evidenzia chiari retaggi sixties rock e via etere, si ascolti il singolone Turn Up Your Radio per comprendere, sarebbe stato a pennello in una diffusione AM nel 1979. Lannie Flowers si gioca tutto sulla commistione tra l'andazzo pop che il disco mantiene dall'inizio alla fine e le sfumature grezze e terra a terra che ne arrangiano i contorni. Risultati? Buoni, molto buoni, soprattutto se un album compatto, che tiri avanti deciso senza guardare in faccia a nessuno, intarsiato di canzoni sempre croccanti e privo di pause e stonature è quello che fa per voi. Certo, vi aspettereste delle coordinate che aiutino ad identificarne i concetti base. Ebbene, nonostante Circles sia un lavoro difficilmente inquadrabile, e correndo il rischio di prendermi le uova marce, direi che provando ad immaginare i Cheap Trick impegnati ad interpretare un repertorio di cover Stonesiane mentre Zander tenta di impersonificare Eric Burdon…Beh, mi rendo conto delle difficoltà, ma il risultato potrebbe essere tra quelli verosimili.

Pezzi pregiati? La title track, dove le sofferte linee melodiche potrebbero essere state scritte da un primordiale Rivers Cuomo e la già citata Turn Up Your Radio, naturalmente. E poi Where Does Love Go, dalla scrittura intelligente e cangiante nella sua apparente semplicità, ma soprattutto Looking For You, elementare midtempo powerpop utile a ricordare come mai, anche quando si presenta in veste così cruda, amiamo alla follia questo sottogenere. Ripeto: chi avesse scoperto Lannie Flowers ascoltando Same Old Story resetti tutto e si prepari a godere di un album agli antipodi. Tutti gli altri si concedano una spensierata corsa in autostrada con Circles a bomba nell'autoradio.

"Circles" bietet feine Ohrwürmer, die man trotz bekannter Anlage gerne hört - Musicscan

Worauf kommt es im Spektrum zwischen Rock und Power-Pop an? Ganz einfach: Auf starke Melodien und Riffs, eingängige Hooklines und Refrains und auf einen markanten Sänger. Werden diese nötigen Voraussetzungen mit einem bewussten, stimmigen Songwriting kombiniert, kann eigentlich nichts mehr schief gehen. "Cirlces" beweist es. Die 15 Tracks sind einfach und bescheiden gehalten, gehen aber bestens ins Ohr und wissen zu gefallen. LANNIE FLOWERS stammt aus Kennedale, Texas und führt in seinem Schaffen Sounds von den 60ern bis heute zusammen. Gut, das Zweitwerk des Amerikaners ist vor allem retro orientiert, doch seine Stücke überzeugen mit Charme und Stilsicherheit. Wenn die zweite Platte des Musikers läuft, denkt man an Gruppen wie The Beatles, Rolling Stones, The Kinks, Beach Boys und Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers. Das Album ist überaus generell und allgemein gehalten; besitzt aufgrund seiner natürlichen Poppigkeit und Überzeichnung der Hooks Wiedererkennungswert. Der Texaner tritt durchgängig Radio kompatibel und wohlklingend in Erscheinung, ohne dabei gezwungen oder gekünstelt zu wirken. LANNIE FLOWERS bringt die notwendige Lockerheit und Verinnerlichung des Power Pops mit, um authentisch und stark aufzuspielen. "Circles" bietet feine Ohrwürmer, die man trotz bekannter Anlage gerne hört.

Extremely Highly Recommeded! - Not Lame Recordings

WOW!!! Listen up - Lannie Flowers` "Circles" will amaze almost any Not Lamer.

Vocally, he sounds like a combination of Nick Lowe and Walter Clevenger and musically, the sounds are similar, too. The material here is an energetic and infectious declaration of power pop with straight-up melodies, laced with amble dosings of pure roots pop charm. There`s overwhelmingly catchy vibe here because this material splendorously drift from hard-wired anthemics to more open chorded, gentle sounds to sweeping, accessible and good-natured hook magic ala Badfinger and Blue Cartoon on a few here.

Sure, it may not be everyone and it`s not going to change the music sound/landscape but this parade of pure `n easy pop fun just hits the right notes, the right spunk, the right spirit. Unpretentious, clean joyous fun.

You know it, folks - Extremely Highly Recommeded!

Can't say enough about this one! GREAT!!! - Kool Kat Musik

THREE HOUR TOUR/POSIES/ADAM SCHMITT ALERT!!! WOW!!! Lannie Flowers is a veteran Texan popster with an impressive resume. Honing his skills ever since the late '70s, he fronted his own band The Pengwins, worked with the likes of Jim Dickinson and Rick Derringer. Following the success of his first album of uniquely pieced together short little pop nuggets, "Same Old Story", he has emerged with yet another gem. And, after successfully mining for even more pop gold in 2010, delivers a record that spins the same old story even further in a new direction. It makes clear, that while we might all be going around in circles, sooner or latter we make it back home. "He tackles everything from mid'60s beat (with the B-bands and Zombies being refered to the most), through early '70s melodic crunch (Raspberries, Big Star) or late '70s/early'80s new wave (Elvis Costello, Squeeze), to '90s Britpop." - Popism.com Yep, it's all in there folks! Chock full of ringing, jangly, crunchy guitars, top-notch full-length songs that would be hits if there was any justice, and superb singing throughout, the record is a start to finish Arctic blast of good ol' fashioned, classic-sounding, no-frills power pop bliss that slots in quite nicely with the aforementioned popsters! And it's all delivered Texas-style! It's a release that stands head and shoulders above the crowd. Like peeling an onion, each listen uncovers another influence, another nuance, that might not have been so obvious the first time around. With all this gushing, we just might have found our favorite pop record of 2010 from an extremely talented guy whose name should be on the tips of tongues of true, dyed-in-the-wool, poppers everywhere! Can't say enough about this one! GREAT!!!

Circle this one on your shopping list - Absolute Powerpop

A couple of years ago, Texas' Lannie Flowers released "Same Old Story" which was essentially a medley of 36 songs of about one minute each. It received a lot of love in the power pop community but didn't make my lists since it didn't lend itself to my preferred listening habits of shuffling the most recent two months of albums I come across. It was either listen to it all the way through to the exclusion of other stuff, or have one-minute out-of-context snippets pop up randomly in my playlist. It was more my problem than Lannie's, so I'm thrilled to report he's released a new album which consists of 15 proper 3-4 minute tracks. And the talent he showed in 60-second bursts has transitioned nicely to full-length songs as Circles is another year-end contender for me. The title track is killer power pop in the vein of Jason Falkner and Jim Boggia, "Turn Up Your Radio" will have you doing just that (assuming it played stuff as good as this), and "Not in Love" might just be the quintessential power pop track with its straight-up hooks and handclaps. Circle this one on your shopping list.

Powerpopaholic

Dallas musician Lannie Flowers acclaimed debut was an ambitious concept album, but on his sophomore LP Circles he sticks to a more traditional pop format (or does he?) Starting with the title track he describes his frustration, "I don't know where I'm going, all I know is I'm not knowing, going round in circles all the time." His sound is harder to pin down here, but similar to The Animals with hints of ELO and Cheap Trick. The songs go from upbeat harmonic pop to sneering hard rock, often in the same song.

"Turn Up Your Radio" has a memorable chorus, harmonies and a wicked riff that sticks like glue. "Not In Love" is another gem that does everything a power pop track is supposed to do. "I Don't Know" has a rougher vocal that recalls Eric Burdon or Alex Chilton. The contrast of sweet pop and rough pub rock is really pronounced on "Where Does Love Go" - a great song that shifts tone between each chorus. "All Dressed Up" is another great track that sounds like Mick Jagger playing for The Beau Brummels. The styles may be jarring at times, but there is not a wasted note here. Lannie makes it clear, that while we might all be going around in circles, sooner or latter we make it back home.

A brilliant powerpop record by one of the most talented practitioners of the genre - Popphil

Just as Lannie Flowers' 2008 debut was full of magnificent promises in the form of extremely short tracks (36 in all!), each with a different melodic hook, so this follow-up is a brilliant feat of songwriting with this gifted songwriter now presenting 15 songs only, all of them pure pop numbers with a distinctive melody in each of them.

No redundancy on here but some truly inspired moments like the first six songs, the ballad 'Everyone' which could have been penned by Paul McCartney or 'Looking for you', a song that sometimes calls to mind Matthew Sweet.

In short, a brilliant powerpop record by one of the most talented practitioners of the genre.

"Album of the Year" - Power Pop Station

Now when I'm asked "What is Power Pop?" the answer will be: Same Old Story

"Same Old Story pushes at the bounds of conformity" - Toxic Pete - UK

Same Old Story is a great pop album that owes no allegiance to any particular sub-genre or sub-culture. This ain't banal pop, this ain't trite, this is the big brother of Pop music