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
Support the podcast, join the DMO UNION at Patreon.
#193: At Action Park by Shellac
#192: Ruby Vroom by Soul Coughing
#191: Faithless Street by Whiskeytown
#190: Subliminal Plastic Motives by Self
#189: Return of The Rentals by The Rentals
#188: Twice Removed by Sloan
#187: Bakesale by Sebadoh
#186: Second Coming by The Stone Roses
#185: Patient by Bluebottle Kiss
#184: The Plastic Hassle by Ripe
#183: Dig by I Mother Earth
#182: The Holy Bible by Manic Street Preachers
#181: Interview with Steve Fisk
#180: Prize by Wanderlust
#179: Silver Sun by Silver Sun
#178: The Din Pedals by The Din Pedals
#177: Kiss My Ass - Classic Kiss Regrooved
#176: Now I’m a Cowboy by The Auteurs
#175: Front End Loader by Front End Loader
#174: The 12 Point Master Plan by Bobgoblin
Create your
podcast in
minutes
It is Free
Derringer Discoveries - A Music Adventure Podcast
Bandsplain
One Song
Switched on Pop
Every Single Album