Overlooked Albums from the '90s - #29

Songs and Music From She's the One by Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers

Some posts are diamonds, some posts are rocks...

My computer just crashed and I lost the post for this album that I was VERY close to finishing. I can't even begin to explain how angry I am about that. I was actually thinking that it was one of the better posts I'd yet written for this series. Now I have neither the time nor desire to recreate it. Instead, we're going to take things in a different direction. YOU are going to write this post. Got it? I'm sure you guys have something to say about this album...it's Tom Petty for crying out loud. He's like huge famous and stuff. His music litters countless craptastic radio stations across the country.

A question to consider - can an album of his possibly be 'overlooked'? My premise is that this very album is indeed rather criminally overlooked. It's overlooked by Tom Petty fans, overlooked by classic rock fans, and overlooked by everyone else. It's full of some of the best straight forward rock songs that were released in the '90s and it's about ten times better than the film it was written for. What do YOU think? Help me write this sucker by leaving a comment or two - me, I'm off to see the wizard.

As a frame of reference, AllMusic says:

"She's the One is one of Petty's most relaxed efforts -- several of the songs feel like they were written and performed quickly, almost as if they were throwaways, but that ramshackle feeling actually works in the album's favor. With its loose ends, repeated songs, covers, brief instrumental bridges, and direct production, She's the One is a ragged listen, but it's a comfortable, engaging, and surprisingly eclectic one. Petty goes for a number of different moods, from the circular harmonies of "Walls (Circus)" (which features guest vocals from Lindsey Buckingham) and the hard-rocking "Zero From Outer Space" to the melancholy ruminations of "Grew Up Fast." Along the way, he tosses in two excellent covers of contemporary songwriters -- Lucinda Williams' slyly sneering "Change the Locks" and Beck's stark, sad "Asshole" -- which are performed with affection and vigor. In fact, that vigor is what makes She's the One so charming -- Petty sounds like he's having a good time throughout the album. "

I realize that many readers of EAR FARM aren't going to be super-familiar with artists like Tom Petty (maybe you guys have even tried to avoid listening to bands like Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers?) and that was partially the reason that I wanted to include this album in this feature, so don't cry for me if there's not a bunch of commenting going on here. There will be more fun posts with great enthusiasm and zeal tomorrow!

Listen:

• "Walls (Circus)"
• "Zero From Outer Space"
• "Asshole"

Previous Overlooked Albums from the 90's:
#1 - Saturnalia by The Wedding Present
#2 - The Inevitable by Squirrel Nut Zippers
#3 - This is Our Music by Galaxie 500
#4 - Dusk by The The
#5 - Fantasma by Cornelius
#6 - New Wave by The Auteurs
#7 - I, Jonathan by Jonathan Richman
#8 - Futureworld by Trans Am
#9 - Harmacy by Sebadoh
#10 - Cure For Pain by Morphine
#11 - God Fodder by Ned's Atomic Dustbin
#12 - Seven by James
#13 - Why Do Birds Sing? by Violent Femmes
#14 - Blank-Wave Arcade by The Faint
#15 - Dog Man Star by Suede
#16 - Beatsongs by The Blue Aeroplanes
#17 - Don't Try This At Home by Billy Bragg
#18 - 1992: The Love Album by Carter USM
#19 - Time Was Gigantic...When We Were Kids by The Durutti Column
#20 - Psalm 69 by Ministry
#21 - The Dirtchamber Sessions, Vol. 1 by The Prodigy
#22 - Going Blank Again by Ride
#23 - Love At Absolute Zero by My Favorite
#24 - Placebo by Placebo
#25 - K by Kula Shaker
#26 - Kill Uncle by Morrissey
#27 - Manhattan Melodies by Eric Reed
#28 - Dare To Be Surprised by Folk Implosion

if you'd like...
Pitchfork's top albums of the '90s
1st version of their list

Another site does their own "Overlooked of the '90s":
Top 30 'Other' Albums of the '90s