Three Crosses

Item: Skinny Flowers
Author: Kenn Johnson

Skinny Flowers

(1998)

Reviewed by Kenn Johnson

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Label Benson Music GroupThe LighthouseUnsorted 1998

blues rock heartland rock roots rock southern rock

I listened to Three Crosses' latest effort, Skinny Flowers, with some admitted bias. I'd heard their stuff before and wasn't so sure. Yet despite its close similarity to prior efforts, I was pleasantly surprised by this disc, right from the start. It features an upbeat, acoustic-rock sound with a diverse blend of musical influences, including John Mellencamp, Crosby, Stills, and Nash, Caedmon's Call, and Big Tent Revival. I'll even go to the edge here and include Blind Melon in the mix.

Pulsing throughout the album appears to be the message of sacrifice, which is sometimes overtly stated, but also less obviously so in the recurring messages of being content where God has placed you, walking with God despite circumstance, and the rewards of hardship.

As with prior releases, Skinny Flowers is minimally textured and a bit redundant musically, as if all the songs were written in one sitting observing life in some half-abandoned diner on a deserted Southwestern highway. Most of the songs here seem to be simple lyrical snapshots of life, a la Mellencamp. Frankly, a number of them struck me as trite or underdeveloped. Unfortunately, there isn't much variation among songs in terms of chording and arrangement to warrant any real excitement. Yet I think that despite this, fans of Three Crosses will likely be happy with Skinny Flowers.

Despite its weak points, this disc is by no means without merit lyrically. Notable examples include "April And Me," which has a definite positive charge and left me struggling to make it all the way through the next song without going back and repeating it. Another noteworthy exception is the moving "Sometimes I Still Feel Alone" (perhaps the most impressive piece in this collection), which has a very real, human sentiment, a decidedly centering effect, thoughtful lyrics, and rich musical textures. Also of note are the ballad "Seeds Of Sorrow," which strikes a very contemplative chord, with a message of reward through hardship and perseverance, and the (ironically) upbeat "Mondays Always Get Me Down," which left a very positive aftertaste.

So overall, despite a few very minor musical lackings, Skinny Flowers has value if for no other reason than it projects a positive message and maybe even a challenge to the listener to sacrifice to God the things that we are, where we are, and who we are. That alone makes this one worth the listen.