Asking for Flowers I definitely agree is her best. My mother compares her to Neil Young, and I think she's half-right (she's talking about his Harvest-era material). Just some drop-dead gorgeous stuff that also - at least for me - works on a few levels. It just wrecks me emotionally, or sometimes it's just pretty to listen to, and sometimes I dig it like I dig Dylan, as someone who I can appreciate their cleverness and their wit and their playfulness (with Edwards, way more playfulness than the first two).
― Mordy, Monday, 2 February 2009 05:34 (fifteen years ago) link
Yeah, she reminds me of Neil a lot, too.
― roxymuzak, Monday, 2 February 2009 05:35 (fifteen years ago) link
Hadn't thought of it, but yeah, I can see that. In the surprising emotional connection sense. Even if you're only half listening, it can just sneak up on you, which I find Neil can do as well. Maybe a crafty Canadian stealth thing?
― Lostandfound, Monday, 2 February 2009 08:13 (fifteen years ago) link
i didn't like asking for flowers at first, but have come around to it ("oh canada" is a standout). whereas back to me grabbed me immediately, especially "copied keys." clearly she has a thing for writing about keys.
― snuh, Monday, 2 February 2009 09:10 (fifteen years ago) link
Speaking of which...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XXghGA9imzg
― Elvis Telecom, Friday, 30 October 2009 05:43 (fourteen years ago) link
I can't really listen to it without tearing up
"Sure As Shit" does this for me, bad scansion, goofy denim king and all
― all yoga attacks are fire based (rogermexico.), Friday, 30 October 2009 06:07 (fourteen years ago) link
She is brilliant. I discovered her around the same time I discovered Lucinda Williams, who I think has lost the plot with her last couple of albums. Unlike Williams, Kathleen just keeps on making superbly catchy songs with a gorgeous eye for lyrical detail and wonderfully subtle arrangements. Every single track on Asking for Flowers is at the very top of my iPod most played list.
I would, too.
― anagram, Friday, 30 October 2009 08:33 (fourteen years ago) link
My friend told me today that he sat next to Lucinda Williams at a show not too long ago. he asked her what she thought about Kathleen Edwards ripping her off, lol
― Cunga, Wednesday, 20 January 2010 00:59 (fourteen years ago) link
Kathleen Edwards > Lucinda Williams imo
― Mordy, Wednesday, 20 January 2010 01:09 (fourteen years ago) link
^^^^^ on this
― Elvis Telecom, Wednesday, 20 January 2010 02:04 (fourteen years ago) link
He said LW didn't think she was ripping her off, but she would, er, reverse the above equation definitely. He also said LW was cool as hell and bought everyone drinks and stuff, so much respect towards her.
― Cunga, Wednesday, 20 January 2010 03:07 (fourteen years ago) link
I would say KE > LW now as well (see my earlier post). Kathleen lacks Lucinda's grit and sweat but that is no bad thing. I can't stop listening to "Scared At Night", I hang on every word of it and it makes me think about how I will feel when my father dies.
― anagram, Wednesday, 20 January 2010 09:55 (fourteen years ago) link
i met KE after a show where she was the support like 5-6 yrs ago and she was really gracious chilling with the crowd and signing stuff and shooting the breeze in general iirc
― plaxico (I know, right?), Wednesday, 20 January 2010 10:10 (fourteen years ago) link
She's opening for Bon Iver this autumn. Seemed like an odd pairing until I learned that they are an item. Still, it should give her some much deserved exposure. New album out in the autumn as well I think.
― ban this sick stunt (anagram), Thursday, 7 July 2011 14:30 (twelve years ago) link
They're an item? Does that mean Edwards broke up with the guitar player (who I thought was pretty crucial to her sound/show)?
― Josh in Chicago, Thursday, 7 July 2011 16:39 (twelve years ago) link
I guess she must have done, yes.
― ban this sick stunt (anagram), Thursday, 7 July 2011 17:07 (twelve years ago) link
woah, had no idea about any of that. Her last record was awesome.
― THIS IS SATIRE BTW (Simon H.), Thursday, 7 July 2011 18:10 (twelve years ago) link
holy fuck this new album is great
― Mordy, Wednesday, 16 November 2011 01:19 (twelve years ago) link
I had no idea she was even bringing a new one out any time soon! This is exciting, she's completely under-rated for someone so talented and consistent.
― "only girl in the kitchen" (boxedjoy), Wednesday, 16 November 2011 17:00 (twelve years ago) link
I haven't heard it yet. :(
― Do you know what the secret of comity is? (Michael White), Wednesday, 16 November 2011 18:13 (twelve years ago) link
Yeah I had worries about her working w/ schmindie types but this is sounding good so far.
― Simon H., Wednesday, 16 November 2011 18:27 (twelve years ago) link
New album is good, the first by her I'm actually looking forward to playing again since "Failer". Bon Iver dude doesn't appear to have ruined anything about her sound; the flaws I find here (professional/polite music saps a bit too much of the urgency of her songwriting) are the same things that bothered me about her last two.
"Sidecar" is flat out wonderful (even included it on my 2011 P&J ballot thanks to iTunes releasing it as an early single) and "Pink Champagne" is devastating. Still coming around to the rest.
― Who wants to see the great Pavarotti sit on a pie? (jer.fairall), Saturday, 7 January 2012 05:15 (twelve years ago) link
I do think a Canadian invoking "moving to America" as an "empty threat" is both cheeky and clever.
― Josh in Chicago, Saturday, 7 January 2012 14:36 (twelve years ago) link
this album is so fucking great- huge grower
― Mordy, Sunday, 8 January 2012 16:40 (twelve years ago) link
see me smile / its not for funny joke / its for every time (every time)i don't need a punchline
― Mordy, Sunday, 8 January 2012 16:41 (twelve years ago) link
Love that song. The rest, especially the second half, I find hit-or-miss.
― Simon H., Sunday, 8 January 2012 17:33 (twelve years ago) link
I am curious to see if the Bon Iver connection suddenly gets her adopted by all the folks that have slept on her for three albums.
― Josh in Chicago, Sunday, 8 January 2012 17:39 (twelve years ago) link
....or on the other hand if folks like me who have loved all those albums get turned off her by the Bon Iver connection. Haven't heard the new one yet but I wouldn't say that was an impossibility.
― ban this sick stunt (anagram), Sunday, 8 January 2012 19:19 (twelve years ago) link
Eh, his influence is subtle. Biggest dif. is that this one lacks the polish of anything that even remotely aspired to radio play. It's indie-dull in sound.
― Josh in Chicago, Sunday, 8 January 2012 19:39 (twelve years ago) link
It's indie-dull in sound
well that's down to him then b/c none of the previous three have been indie-dull at all
― ban this sick stunt (anagram), Sunday, 8 January 2012 20:03 (twelve years ago) link
Bet she had to change the sheets after Justin jizzed all over them.imshippyupup 4 days ago
― buzza, Sunday, 8 January 2012 21:05 (twelve years ago) link
xpost Yeah, but it's not like the arrangements are all indie chamber rock all of a sudden. It's just less shiny and major-label sounding, ie indie-dull.
― Josh in Chicago, Sunday, 8 January 2012 21:32 (twelve years ago) link
on Dave Letterman tnite!
― Mordy, Wednesday, 18 January 2012 00:43 (twelve years ago) link
she was really good
― Mordy, Thursday, 19 January 2012 03:25 (twelve years ago) link
she performed Change the Sheets -- which is a really great second-half cut
― Mordy, Thursday, 19 January 2012 03:27 (twelve years ago) link
good performance, she looked great. however the song did indeed sound "indie dull" as described above. I like my Kathleen polished and radio-friendly.
― ban this sick stunt (anagram), Thursday, 19 January 2012 06:26 (twelve years ago) link
Not sure why this song didn't make the record? Melds the "indie-dull" sound with her songwriting more effectively than anything on the album, IMO:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=af66lh1uYvI
― Simon H., Friday, 20 January 2012 05:40 (twelve years ago) link
Really into this:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PVt7Tgf09Xw
― do you not like slouching? (Eazy), Wednesday, 25 January 2012 07:08 (twelve years ago) link
Wanted to go to this, but couldn't get it off work. Shoulda tried harder, as I doubt she's coming back 'round this way again any time soon...
http://blogs.windsorstar.com/2012/09/10/kathleen-edwards-stung-by-bee-nearly-dies/
― this is the dream of avril and chad (jer.fairall), Wednesday, 19 September 2012 00:20 (eleven years ago) link
Wow, that's wild. With all the talk of nut allergies, and wheat allergies and whatnot, it's easy to forget all about good ol' bee stings.
― Josh in Chicago, Wednesday, 19 September 2012 04:38 (eleven years ago) link
hockey
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1m69S1dfrak
― christmas candy bar (al leong), Saturday, 4 May 2013 20:39 (eleven years ago) link
:-(
http://www.canada.com/entertainment/music/Kathleen+Edwards+says+doesn+want+make+music+anymore/9494991/story.html
― Inside Lewellyn Sinclair (cryptosicko), Friday, 14 February 2014 01:28 (ten years ago) link
Blame Bon Iver.
― Josh in Chicago, Friday, 14 February 2014 01:33 (ten years ago) link
Covers of Springsteen's "Human Touch" and REM's "Sweetness Follows" up at her Soundcloud page. The latter is gorgeous.
https://soundcloud.com/kathleen-edwards-1
― MaudAddam (cryptosicko), Wednesday, 20 August 2014 13:24 (nine years ago) link
Man, is she good. We're due a new album, aren't we? Didn't she say something about opening a restaurant?
― Josh in Chicago, Monday, 13 October 2014 22:37 (nine years ago) link
:) for her, :( for us ... guessing (or maybe hoping) she'll make another record and play more shows someday?
http://www.thestar.com/entertainment/music/2014/11/29/kathleen_edwards_calls_it_quits_opens_quitters_coffee.html
― alpine static, Sunday, 30 November 2014 23:38 (nine years ago) link
That's so romantic.
― bamcquern, Monday, 1 December 2014 04:07 (nine years ago) link
Yeah, that's a great story. Hope I can make it over there myself one day. Voyageur was a real misstep for her and I'm sorry but I have to lay a lot of the blame for that at Vernon's feet, it was far too limp and watery for my liking. Asking for Flowers was a masterpiece – as indeed were the first two records – so I hope that if and when she returns to recording she rediscovers that side of her muse.
― rising stones cross (anagram), Monday, 1 December 2014 12:55 (nine years ago) link
Voyageur was a bit limp, but it had good songs, imo, and I thought Vernon affected/hurt it less than I feared he would. It *was* a step down from the first three, but I mean...that's a pretty tough bar to try to reach, you know?
― alpine static, Monday, 1 December 2014 18:22 (nine years ago) link
Man, I knew she was threatening to quit and open a place, but I didn't realize she actually went and did it. She's one of my favorite songwriters of all time. Could somehow see her fitting in with the current Pistol Annies/Clark/Musgraves crew.
― Josh in Chicago, Friday, 3 July 2015 18:48 (eight years ago) link
it was driving me crazy but I finally realized what "Glenfern" reminds me of: Frente's cover of of Bizarre Love Triangle
now I just need to determine what very popular 90s song the guitar part in "Options Open" reminds me of. Anybody?
This album is ok. Better than Voyager but nowhere near Failer or Asking for Flowers. Too many twee songs about pets, for one thing.
― Paul Ponzi, Wednesday, 9 September 2020 11:26 (three years ago) link
the pet grieving one-two punch "Ashes to Ashes" -> "Who Rescued Who" is some amazing sequencing (not to mention very helpful to me recently)
― geoffreyess, Saturday, August 29, 2020 5:58 PM (three months ago) bookmarkflaglink
these songs come out of nowhere and kick my ass emotionally
― mellon collie and the infinite bradness (BradNelson), Thursday, 24 December 2020 16:16 (three years ago) link
Listening to Asking for Flowers again right now. Really hitting the spot.
― The Thin, Wild Mercury Rising (James Redd and the Blecchs), Friday, 22 September 2023 01:46 (eight months ago) link
It's a beautiful record.
― Josh in Chicago, Friday, 22 September 2023 02:19 (eight months ago) link
"Alicia Ross"
stops me in my tracks every time
that third verse
― alpine static, Friday, 22 September 2023 06:44 (eight months ago) link