The Liverpudlian kings of cool are back, their singer still gallantly sporting one of the best haircuts in rock.
The Bunnymen spokespersons are proclaiming this album, their eighth offering, to be their best since their debut, 'Crocodiles', released over 20 years ago. Sounds great! But is it?
The alarm bells start to ring almost immediately with the sugary sweet album title, nevermind the fact that one of the tracks is called 'Supermellow Man'. The thought of Ian McCulloch mellowing out with age is not a particularly exciting one. Surely we love him for his killer, shades and vitriol combination?
Still, the album begins well with 'King Of Kings', McCulloch's voice a startling baritone, resonating the great opening lines "I met Jesus up on a hill, he confessed I was dressed to kill". Maybe the title was something of a misnomer?
Unfortunately, the aforementioned 'Supermellow Man' is up next and lives up to its yawn title. Finding new lyrical inspiration after over 20 years can't be easy, but 'Hide & Seek's chorus of "help me get my feet back off the ground…help me get my head back in the clouds" is pretty inexcusable. Still, it beats fellow rock veteran, Michael Stipe's, recent truly diabolical couplet of "You want the greatest thing/ the greatest thing since bread came sliced" -from recent single 'Imitation Of Life'.
The rest of the album continues its voyage into average territory, with a few notable exceptions. First single 'It's Alright' has a nice juxtaposition between jolly verse and menacing chorus ("here they come again, voices in my head, a single sad refrain…"). The title track possesses a lovely theramin sound and minimalist piano. And the album finishes in true style with the genuinely touching and tender 'Burn For Me', which succeeds in taking you to another place entirely like only melancholy songs can.
All in all, 'Flowers' is simply too nice to be up there with the Bunnymen's finest work, but a worthy record, if only for the few great tracks you will find within.
