Miranda Lambert – “Dead Flowers”

^^ Ditto! I LOVE this song!

Ive been a huge fan of hers since she first came around, and I def agree that lyrically this is a huge growth for her. Im not really sold on the production, but like Leeann, maybe itll grow on me.

I have to admit…I’m a big fan. Of both Miranda and the song.

I thought this was a remake of the Rolling Stone’s “dead Flowers” there for a second. Rick, what don’t you like about Texas regional music styles?

Hope this gets her up somewhere closer to carrie and taylor. She’s a good songwriter and a better vocalist. We could use someone who is both as the “country ladies ambassador.”

Good, I’m glad I’m not the only one who loves this song! I love the poetic nature of the lyrics, and it just works- It’s really grown on me since I got the studio version.

Let’s leave Taylor and Carrie out of this, please.

I don’t know how I feel about it yet. How do you think radio will feel about it? I’d like like to see her get a number one hit one of these days. I think she’d like to get one too.

I’m not crazy about the song, either. Maybe with repeated listenings it will grow on me.

PaulaW: “Actually her vocals reminded me a bit of Deanna Carter on this song.”

Is that good or bad? I’d say good, because I love Deana Carter <3 But thats just me

I hated this song the first time I heard it. Then I listened to it a few more times, and I thought it was so-so.

Now I love it. I’m excited for the new record.

Great review, Jim! Good to see you’re finally seeing what I’ve always seen in Miranda. Welcome to the dark side. ;-)

Looking forward to hearing the rest of the album as well. If the rest of it is as strong as this song, it’ll be another album of the year trophy for Ran!

Thanx Nicolas. long time though.

“Great songs tell specific stories…”

Hmm. Just a few weeks ago, great songs were “about characters and place,” and a couple of weeks before that they were ones that “live in the space between the setting and the final outcome.” It’s starting to look to me like maybe great songs can do a lot of different things, so why the grandiose pronouncements? And what’s the specific story here, anyway? It’s kind of all setting, isn’t it? Not that there’s anything wrong with that.

Personally, I think the record’s ok (I’d rather listen to it than the Rolling Stones’ “Dead Flowers,” or even a Lambert cover of same), but if there really is “something that sounds truly unique and unbeholden to any definite form” in it, I’m not hearing it, and unfortunately, this review doesn’t really say what it is; it just makes the assertion.

Good Song, Great Artist. Glad to have fresh new material from Miranda Lambert!

“Specific story = Miranda got v-day flowers…”

The lyric is set in January.

I agree with the review insomuch as the story/storytelling in this song does achieve an important balance between distinctiveness and accessibility that has sometimes been lacking in her work. I just don’t think it’s the “breakthrough” moment the review makes it out to be, even if it does seem poised to do better at radio than some previous singles. I think both “Famous in a Small Town” and “Gunpowder & Lead” achieved the same balance, and ditto to a few album cuts like “Dry Town.”

This one is a bit less classifiable in genre terms, but I guess I think Miranda Lambert is at her best when she’s doing distinct, less aurally nebulous material. To me, this sounds like Rascal Flatts’ “Take Me There” with way more interesting lyrics, and it washes out the nuanced nature of her singing. I do like it alright, and I do think it could be a real hit, but I just don’t think it has the overall “punch” to stand out among her best work so far.

I’d like to add that I do really like this review, though. It’s a very good piece of writing, even if I don’t agree fully with it.

Jim, that is quite a good piece of writing you have here.

Good song, good lyrics, good melody, Good start to Miranda’s 3rd album.

As a longtime fan of Miranda I find it interesting that one of things that you seem the most enthused about this song Jim is the thing I’m least impressed with, the song’s production. I’m not in love with the sound of this song especially the the intro and the effect used on Miranda’s vocals that is especially noticeable before the first chorus, however I do like this song a lot.I agree that the writing and vocals are probably the best from Miranda so far and that it’s miles better than most of the songs on radio today. I just hope that the production of this song isn’t foreshadowing the sound of her entire new album and that the sound that made me fall in love with her music is still there somewhat.

Great review! The first time I heard this song, I thought to myself that she finally might hit the success she so deserves. The music, the lyrics, the emotion she sings with, I think will make this song a hit.

I own both of her Miranda’s CDs and think that she is by far one of the most underrated artists out there. I think Miranda fans either want her to be a Taylor Swift or a Gretchen Wilson and she is kinda in the middle of that spectrum. She has always kind of had the harder edge to her music unlike that of Carrie and Taylor, who are also on my iPod. But when I want to hear some real county music, I lean more towards “Gunpowder and Lead” then “Love Story”. If you’re looking for just a great CD, I really recommend her last album, especially the tracks, “Desperation” and “I Just Really Miss You” are stand out tracks.

If this is a sign of things to come on the 3rd album, it’ll be in my car by the afternoon of the day it comes out.

While I think you tend to exaggerate the extent to which this serves as an artistic turning point for Lambert, or that “full-fledged artistic powerhouse” as you call it……….I nonetheless agree this is a solid, poignant track that is deserving of the praise it has received, and is one I hope radio will not overlook, especially in relation to the far inferior, often disingenuous crop of material that Lambert is presently competing with on the airwaves.

I do also agree she has never sounded quite this concise, and while it is clear “Gunpowder & Lead” and “Kerosene” in particular didn’t fail at all to be accessible to listeners, I think the brevity and straight-to-the-point nature of “Dead Flowers” will prove to be its calling card in helping sinew Miranda Lambert’s profile as a staple artist on Country radio.

One thing really irritating about this song is the quality of the recording. I listened to the attached link and thought jeez… I’ll just wait for the actual radio release copy, but alas… just as bothersome. Not sure what the point of that was, but I don’t like it, and I’m even used to some poor quality stuff from the ’50s and earlier (with reason).

I think this is clearly Miranda’s most mature vocal yet. The writing is great. It is SOOOOO different than what everyone else is cranking out right now. Production is genuis. Mike Wrucke and Frank Lidell should get more credit. The simplicity kind of reminds me of the Julie Miller song “I Know Why The River Runs” (also produced by Lidell) that LeeAnn Womack covered on the IHYD album.

This song is really growing on me. It’s still not my favorite song from Ran due to some production choices (like the over production of the vocal) but I’m liking this song more every time I hear it which is unusual.

I don’t like this song.

I hope Miranda has a successful career, and I know she can sing but this song just isn’t that great. It doesn’t seem to really go deep into any emotion, like classics of the past have (not to say that it is emotionless, just not focused like a great song should be). The instruments seem loud and obnoxious, rather than powerful and supportive to the lyrics, but her voice does sound good. As for Miranda reaching country music maturity, why is it that we cannot just accept the fact that she is now and has been since she released “me and charlie talkin’” a good country singer with good song and a good voice; not every musician has to be an icon, idol, or ledgend; Just let her keep on being good, and hopefully she will.

This Is Just My Opinion and I’m entitled to it, you are entitled to yours – so please don’t take offence. I’m just offering some balance.

I hope she releases a music video for the song soon, because I know that its going to be a big hit once she does

Ok Todd, thanks for the update! <3

Nicolas, the video shoot was Wednesday, so look for it to come out within the next month or so.

I love this song, the lyrics are so powerful and everytime i hear it i get a chill down my spine. The Video came out today on cmt.com Go check it out everybody, It’s Powerful!!! She is so beautiful.

I don’t think I even guaranteed that this would be a hit, did I?

Well, Its sad to say but, “Dead Flowers” has stalled and now she is releasing a new single “White Liar” I like it, you can go check it out on allaccess.com and it has already gaining alot of audience liking on the radio but it doesn’t even come to radios until August 17th

I have been big fan of this girl from the get go.
I love her songs but sometimes I think she is trying too hard to be the black sheep. It makes her stand out and get noticed and I guess that is the part of the game.

I love Miranda!!! She has a new performance out available to watch at http://soundcheck.walmart.com/miranda-lambert