Annunciation (album)
Annunciation | ||||
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Studio album by | ||||
Released | 1994 | |||
Studio | Chez Flames Recordings | |||
Label | High Street | |||
Producer | The Subdudes, Keith Keller, Glyn Johns | |||
The Subdudes chronology | ||||
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Annunciation is an album by the American band the Subdudes, released in 1994.[1][2] The album title refers to Annunciation Street, in New Orleans; the album was originally intended to be released on Annunciation Day.[3][4] Annunciation was the band's first album for High Street Records.[5] The Subdudes supported the album with a North American tour.[6] Annunciation sold more than 120,000 copies in its first eight months of release.[7]
Production
[edit]Annunciation's songs were written in a cabin in Colorado.[8] It was recorded primarily at Chez Flames Recordings in New Orleans, produced by the band and Keith Keller.[9][10] Glyn Johns had produced five of the songs for an earlier, aborted album.[11] The band was chiefly inspired by gospel music; they also decided to make a mostly acoustic album.[12][13] The title track describes being dropped by Atlantic Records.[14] "Late at Night" was cowritten by members of the Iguanas.[15] "Message Man" criticizes the music industry.[16] "Angel to Be" is about the death of bassist Johnny Ray Allen's mother.[17]
Critical reception
[edit]Review scores | |
---|---|
Source | Rating |
AllMusic | [18] |
Chicago Tribune | [19] |
The Indianapolis Star | [16] |
MusicHound Rock: The Essential Album Guide | [10] |
Orlando Sentinel | [15] |
Rolling Stone | [9] |
The Tampa Tribune | [20] |
The Chicago Tribune praised Tommy Malone's "soulful vocals and bluesy guitar work."[19] The Orlando Sentinel determined that the Subdudes "custom-blend their R & B with rock, gospel, funk and Cajun/Creole influences from New Orleans."[15] The Indianapolis Star called the music "a melodic mix of New Orleans blues and gospel and American pop, with a heavy emphasis on beat."[16] The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette dismissed the album as "a lukewarm, white-bread retread of the Big Chill soundtrack."[21]
The Colorado Springs Gazette-Telegraph deemed the album "a mixture of N'awlins funk, deep South blues and Colorado folk."[22] Rolling Stone wrote that "this is New Orleans R&B at its most swinging, with touches of barroom blues, gospel-inspired harmonies, rock and country rhythms and, very simply, some fine playing."[9] Stereo Review opined that "Malone sometimes comes across like Michael McDonald—a white guy trying too hard to sing the blues."[3] The Boston Herald considered the music to be "folk-soul."[23]
AllMusic wrote that "the music combines joy, melancholy, gospel fervor, and blues sincerity to create a unique and appealing sound."[18]
Track listing
[edit]No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
1. | "(You'll Be) Satisfied" | |
2. | "Why Can't I Forget About You" | |
3. | "Angel to Be" | |
4. | "I Know" | |
5. | "Late at Night" | |
6. | "Miss Love" | |
7. | "Poverty" | |
8. | "Message Man" | |
9. | "Save Me" | |
10. | "Fountains Flow" | |
11. | "Cold Nights" | |
12. | "Sugar Pie" | |
13. | "It's So Hard" |
References
[edit]- ^ Newman, Melinda (Feb 26, 1994). "The Subdudes heed the call on High Street, issue rollicking, melodic 'Annunciation'". Billboard. Vol. 106, no. 9. p. 14.
- ^ Quintavell, Faith (15 July 1994). "2-Day Show Is a Shower of Pop Stars". Features Weekend. The Philadelphia Inquirer. p. 16.
- ^ a b "Annunciation by the Subdudes". Stereo Review. Vol. 59, no. 10. Oct 1994. p. 97.
- ^ Menconi, David (September 23, 1994). "Never say subdued". The News & Observer. p. WUP10.
- ^ Rassenfoss, Joe (March 18, 1994). "From 'Annunciation' to Zydeco". Rocky Mountain News. p. 12D.
- ^ Harrison, Tom (2 May 1994). "Harvesters finally have a crop". The Province. p. B4.
- ^ Hill, Jack W. (October 21, 1994). "The Subdudes Finally Hit It Lucky Signing with High Street Records". Arkansas Democrat-Gazette. p. 4.4.
- ^ Kinsman, Michael (December 1, 1994). "These 'dudes submerged their sound to create simple yet soulful music". Entertainment. The San Diego Union-Tribune. p. 10.
- ^ a b c Sulcas, Adele (Jun 30, 1994). "Annunciation by the Subdudes". Rolling Stone. No. 685. p. 75.
- ^ a b MusicHound Rock: The Essential Album Guide. Visible Ink Press. 1996. p. 656.
- ^ Krewen, Nick (28 July 1994). "The Subdudes find laid-back success". Ego. The Hamilton Spectator. p. 2.
- ^ Green, Tony (7 Oct 1994). "The Pop Beat". Weekend. St. Petersburg Times. p. 24.
- ^ Beal Jr., Jim (March 18, 1994). "Subdudes, Sundogs set for back-to-back shows". San Antonio Express-News. p. 20E.
- ^ Tianen, Dave (22 Apr 1994). "Another slot in the much praised but still overlooked treasures category...". Milwaukee Sentinel. p. 12E.
- ^ a b c Gettelman, Parry (1 Apr 1994). "The Subdudes, Annunciation". Calendar. Orlando Sentinel. p. 8.
- ^ a b c Pugh, Dorothy L. (18 Apr 1994). "Record Reviews". The Indianapolis Star. p. D45.
- ^ Wolfe, Penny (March 27, 1994). "'Annunciation', the Subdudes". Staten Island Advance. p. F4.
- ^ a b "Annunciation Review by Jim Newsom". AllMusic. Retrieved 9 December 2023.
- ^ a b Kening, Dan (31 Mar 1994). "Recordings". Tempo. Chicago Tribune. p. 6.
- ^ Booth, Philip (April 8, 1994). "The Subdudes, Annunciation". Friday Extra!. The Tampa Tribune. p. 21.
- ^ Masley, Ed (9 June 1995). "Young Dudes". Arts & Entertainment. Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. p. 16.
- ^ Asakawa, Gil (29 Apr 1994). "Sound Advice". Colorado Springs Gazette-Telegraph. p. F5.
- ^ "Discs". Boston Herald. April 1, 1994. p. S16.