As we have learned in our Sophomore Slump Revisited roundtable series, there are many factors and circumstances that can sink a band's second album, especially when coming off a hit single. In the case of Dada and their 1994 release American Highway Flower, the lack of an obvious radio single to match Dizz Knee Land off their debut is a fair consideration. Rather than repeat a formula, the skilled trio of singer-guitarist Michael Gurley, singer-bassist Joie Calio and drummer Phil Leavitt pushed the band in a variety of directions while maintaining a more consistent sound than their first release. But pushing the envelope doesn't always result in a match with the cultural trends, and while the band flexes their muscle with harmonious power-pop and '60s psychedelic flourishes while unafraid to get extra noisy or delicately hushed. They may not have scored a Top 5 single or moved a million units with American Highway Flower, but that doesn't mean this sophomore release qualifies as a slump.
Songs In This Episode:
Intro - All I Am
13:11 - Feet To The Sun
17:22 - Feel Me Don't You
23:00 - Real Soon
30:35 - S.F. Bar '63
Outro - Pretty Girls Make Graves
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#363: Season Seven in Review
#362: Arc Angels by Arc Angels
#361: Stain by Living Colour
#360: KISS in the 90s Roundtable
#359: Interview with Rick Ruhl of Every Mother’s Nightmare
#358: Gran Turismo by The Cardigans
#357: Sophomore Slump Revisited - Freak Show by Silverchair
#356: Firecracker by Lisa Loeb
#355: Re-Animation Festival by The Groovie Ghoulies
#354: Woman’s Gotta Have It by Cornershop
#353: Forever And Counting by Hot Water Music
#352: Digging Your Scene - Roundtable Discussion on Minneapolis-St. Paul in the 90s
#351: One Mississippi by Brendan Benson
#350: Seemless by Into Another
#349: Alternative Country Roundtable Discussion
#348: Talk Show by Talk Show
#347: It Means Everything by Save Ferris
#346: Transmission by The Tea Party
#345: Mindfunk by Mindfunk
#344: Interview with Greg Glover of Arena Rock Recording Company
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