Annunciation (album)

Annunciation
Studio album by
the Subdudes
Released1994
StudioChez Flames Recordings
LabelHigh Street
ProducerThe Subdudes, Keith Keller, Glyn Johns
The Subdudes chronology
Lucky
(1991) 		Annunciation
(1994) 		Primitive Streak
(1996)

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

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

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
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

No.TitleLength
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

  1. ^ Newman, Melinda (Feb 26, 1994). "The Subdudes heed the call on High Street, issue rollicking, melodic 'Annunciation'". Billboard. Vol. 106, no. 9. p. 14.
  2. ^ Quintavell, Faith (15 July 1994). "2-Day Show Is a Shower of Pop Stars". Features Weekend. The Philadelphia Inquirer. p. 16.
  3. ^ a b "Annunciation by the Subdudes". Stereo Review. Vol. 59, no. 10. Oct 1994. p. 97.
  4. ^ Menconi, David (September 23, 1994). "Never say subdued". The News & Observer. p. WUP10.
  5. ^ Rassenfoss, Joe (March 18, 1994). "From 'Annunciation' to Zydeco". Rocky Mountain News. p. 12D.
  6. ^ Harrison, Tom (2 May 1994). "Harvesters finally have a crop". The Province. p. B4.
  7. ^ Hill, Jack W. (October 21, 1994). "The Subdudes Finally Hit It Lucky Signing with High Street Records". Arkansas Democrat-Gazette. p. 4.4.
  8. ^ Kinsman, Michael (December 1, 1994). "These 'dudes submerged their sound to create simple yet soulful music". Entertainment. The San Diego Union-Tribune. p. 10.
  9. ^ a b c Sulcas, Adele (Jun 30, 1994). "Annunciation by the Subdudes". Rolling Stone. No. 685. p. 75.
  10. ^ a b MusicHound Rock: The Essential Album Guide. Visible Ink Press. 1996. p. 656.
  11. ^ Krewen, Nick (28 July 1994). "The Subdudes find laid-back success". Ego. The Hamilton Spectator. p. 2.
  12. ^ Green, Tony (7 Oct 1994). "The Pop Beat". Weekend. St. Petersburg Times. p. 24.
  13. ^ Beal Jr., Jim (March 18, 1994). "Subdudes, Sundogs set for back-to-back shows". San Antonio Express-News. p. 20E.
  14. ^ Tianen, Dave (22 Apr 1994). "Another slot in the much praised but still overlooked treasures category...". Milwaukee Sentinel. p. 12E.
  15. ^ a b c Gettelman, Parry (1 Apr 1994). "The Subdudes, Annunciation". Calendar. Orlando Sentinel. p. 8.
  16. ^ a b c Pugh, Dorothy L. (18 Apr 1994). "Record Reviews". The Indianapolis Star. p. D45.
  17. ^ Wolfe, Penny (March 27, 1994). "'Annunciation', the Subdudes". Staten Island Advance. p. F4.
  18. ^ a b "Annunciation Review by Jim Newsom". AllMusic. Retrieved 9 December 2023.
  19. ^ a b Kening, Dan (31 Mar 1994). "Recordings". Tempo. Chicago Tribune. p. 6.
  20. ^ Booth, Philip (April 8, 1994). "The Subdudes, Annunciation". Friday Extra!. The Tampa Tribune. p. 21.
  21. ^ Masley, Ed (9 June 1995). "Young Dudes". Arts & Entertainment. Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. p. 16.
  22. ^ Asakawa, Gil (29 Apr 1994). "Sound Advice". Colorado Springs Gazette-Telegraph. p. F5.
  23. ^ "Discs". Boston Herald. April 1, 1994. p. S16.