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Lyrically, this is also Petty's strongest album to date. "You Don't Know How It Feels" and "Hard On Me" deal with the pain of isolation, the fear of loneliness. Songs like "Only A Broken Heart" and the title track are almost reassurances, like he's saying it's okay to feel this pain, you're headed somewhere better. "A Higher Place" and "It's Good To Be King" have a twinge of cynicism beneath their ideologies, while "To Find A Friend" and "Crawling Back To You" are about the pain of a relationship (the latter especially touching). And in "Wake Up Time," a very fitting coda, Petty especially confronts his age, with wisdom, reflection, even a little pessimism and wonder ("You were so cool, back in high school, What happened?").

Musically, while most of the Heartbreakers did end up contributing a lot towards the album (certainly much more than on FULL MOON FEVER), this is a Tom Petty solo album, so it allows for more creative arrangements, and plenty of guest stars. Ringo Starr plays drums on "To Find A Friend," the wonderful slide guitarist Marty Rifkin is buried deep in the mix on "House In The Woods," and Petty himself even takes his hand at lead guitar on a couple of numbers. There are a few absolute get-yer-yayas-out jam tunes, "You Wreck Me" and especially "Honey Bee," sort of the sweatier, swampier second-cousin to "Mary Jane's Last Dance." Petty would continue to record teriffic music, more or less with his fellow Heartbreakers, but he'd never quite reach this level of sophistication and artistry again. A must-own.


American Gothic   December 18, 2006
 10 out of 14 found this review helpful

"In the course of Tom Petty's long career we've never noticed Petty gettin' on in years or becoming an anachronism. So it is somehow appropriate that on WILDFLOWERS, his second "solo" ride without the full complement of the Heartbreakers, Petty's musings fall predominantly toward his current role in the world. Throughout these reflections Tom Petty plays the kid's game he's been good at for years ("but let me get to the point, let's roll another joint" he sneers knowingly in "You Don't Know How It Feels"). More often than not, the future the songwriter envisions for himself is full of doubts. This makes WILDFLOWERS speak in a far more subdued and wistful tone than most Petty records, creating a darker self-conscious persona." Rolling Stone

"Wildflowers" is Tom Petty's second album without 'the Heartbreakers', although most of them play on this CD. This is his most personal CD, written about relationships, friends/lovers that are lost, broken, found, and then add hope and darkness. I call it 'American Gothic' for a reason- everything is not as it seems at first glance. This CD evolves and at first glance/listen and without personal relationship experiences, many can miss the nuances of this remarkable CD. Tom Petty gets to say what we feel, and he is able to express our thoughts without reservation, without censoring his soul from others. Oh, how I wish I could have understood this CD earlier, in its full bloom . Tom Petty plays his guitar with subtlety and with simplicity. This is a CD for my best friend and me to savor over and over again.

'Wildflowers'- a harpsichord gave this song a folk sound to go with the Western motif. This song produces an image of Petty sitting in the country, playing his guitar and loving it. "You belong among the Wildflowers/You belong somewhere close to me/Far away from your trouble and worry/You belong somewhere you feel free,"

'You Don't Know How It Feels'-"Let's get to the point and roll another joint'. The primary reason this song is so fantastic is that Petty sticks to his old style of rough guitar and harmonica, as personified in this tune. This was the most popular song from this CD and was made into a video.

'Time To Move On'- A sense of hope and optimism we sense through the song although uncertainty and the sense that a change is coming.

'You Wreck Me'-This is not just a song about 'being done wrong' but also of moving on. The vocals give this song a nice punch.
Now and again I get the feeling
Well if I dont wi n, Im a gonna break even
Rescue me, should I go wrong
If I dig too deep, if I stay too long

Oh, yeah, you wreck me, baby
You break me in two
But you move me, honey
Yes you do

'It's Good To be King'-Many people's favorite song. The best part of this song is Michael Kamen's string arrangement. "Can I help it if I still dream time to time? Yeah, I'll be king when dogs have wings" You can be King in your world in your own mind. Outside in the real world, your chances of being King are next to none.

'Only A Broken Heart'-unlucky in love. "Here comes that feeling, back in the old days.
Don't be afraid anymore. It is only a broken heart.
know the place where you keep your secrets
Out of the sunshine, down in a valley
But I'm not afraid anymore
It's only a broken heart

What would I give, to start all over again
To clean up my mistakes


'Honey Bee'-She like to call me king bee, she like to buzz 'round my tree
I call her honey bee, I'm a man in a trance. I'm a boy in short pants
When I see my honey bee. Does Tom smile like I do when I hear this song?

'Don't Fade On Me'-Acoustic guitar work makes this song. A sense of empathy, a pleading for the other person not to fade on him, but understanding that this person might just want to do that.
You were the one who made things different
You were the one who took me in
You were the one thing I could count on
Above all you were my friend

Dont fade
Dont fade on me



'Hard On Me'- "Maybe I could turn the other cheek. You want to make it hard on me." A love gone wrong.

'Cabin Down Below'-a rugged outdoorsman-the song's simple chorus of "Baby, let's go"' makes it the kind of song you don't get out of your head for a long time.

'To Find A Friend'-story of a break-up, maybe Petty's divorce. Ringo Starr plays drums.
And the days went by like paper in the wind
Everything changed, then changed again
Its hard to find a friend
Its hard to find a friend


'A Higher Place'-"We gotta get to a higher place" A song of hope after a difficult time. All about keeping your sense of humor.
I thought we could ride this out
I was up all night making up my mind
But now I got my doubts
I got my eye on the waterline
Trying to keep my sense of humor

'Crawling Back To You'-I'm so tired of being tired. Sure as night will follow day.' Most things I worry about. Never happen anyway. Worry and anxiety all happen, but most often it never gets us anywhere. We spend time worrying and nothing happens. And, if we are right, what can we do, we get through it.

'Wake Up Time'
You spend your life dreaming, running 'round in a trance
You hang out forever and still miss the dance
And if you get lucky, you might find someone
To help you get over the pain that will come
Yeah, you were so cool back in high school, what happened
You were so sure not to have your spirits dampened
But you're just a poor boy alone in this world
You're just a poor boy alone in this world

And it's wake up time
Time to open your eyes
And rise and shine.

The dream of youth is gone and what have you done? It is time to look at life and decide exactly what you want. Look back and see what has happened to give you strength to move forward and find yourself. Easy to say, hard to do. We all need help and reflection. Oh, what a song and what lyrics- best that there is. The song gives hope- "You will be alright- it just takes time".

"Long ago, Tom Petty proved he had the skill and talent to make it in the rock 'n' roll industry. Unlike many musicians, he continues to craft his music and to allow this talent to show through. "Wildflowers" is a step forward for Petty, but is also a flash of the past; it brings memories of time-honored songs and has some instant classics on it as well
Tom Petty understands that he's far too established to keep playing a rebellious, one-dimensional rock & roll singer. On WILDFLOWERS he attempts to ground this understanding in a purposeful existence." toxic waste

Tom Petty has led us on an emotional rollercoaste. We are up and we are down. We listen, we understand the meaning, and we grow with each song. Petty has opened his soul and his heart to give us a peek at a man looking for meaning, and at the same time a man with hope and joy in his soul. A sense of humor and a sense of himself brings us to the edge, and we realize he will win, old friend.
Extraordinary CD- Highly Recommended. prisrob 12/17/06





Has it really been 12 years? Tom Petty's finest solo album still fresh and relevant in 2006   July 15, 2006
 9 out of 11 found this review helpful

In anticipation of Tom Petty's upcoming release of his new solo album, I was reading some of the background material for the new disc. In it I saw mention of it having been 12 years since Wildflowers was released. Shocked, I went back to my car, slipped in my CD, and headed off for a long drive to revisit Tom. Over an hour and at least 50 miles of Missouri countryside later, I discovered Wildflowers is still as energetic and entertaining as it was when first released. This is for me Tom Petty's most honest, unflinching, and fun album, and is a permanent part of my music rotation on every road trip.

Filled with Petty's signature 12-string acoustic, Wildflowers ranges from the breezy and scenic title track to rocking songs like You Wrecked Me. The vibe to the album is upbeat, acoustic, and rhythmic, packed with excellent tracks like Hard to Find a Friend, Time to Move On, Higher Place, Crawling Back To You, and one of my all time favorite tracks, Closing Time. The only dischordant note is Honey Natural Bee, which doesnt fit well in the overall album, but that is what is so great about Petty. He is not afraid to throw you some curveballs and keep you guessing.

Great albums stand the test of time. Songs feel exciting, fresh, and relevant years since they were written, and Wildflowers is a perfect example of a great album by one of the most underrated artists in music. This one deserves a place in your collection, and if you are unsure, pick a long road on a summer day, pop this CD in, and take Wildflowers for a drive.

A.G. Corwin
St. Louis, MO



Who the F*** is Geoffrey Himes?!   February 3, 2005
 8 out of 8 found this review helpful

"It's just that Harrison on his own is a second-tier rock & roll figure whose best work is long behind him, and that's pretty much the case with Petty as well."

George's best work came out not too long before this and was succeeded by an equally towering achievement after he died. As for Petty, he's far shy from having one foot in the grave as a creative artist. Criticism is subjective, to be sure, but these comments are not only way off base they're offensive.


Mr. Himes   June 9, 2007
 8 out of 9 found this review helpful

Dear Amazon,

Mr. Himes review of Mr. Petty's work is snarky and shallow. His characterization of Petty & George Harrison (two of the all-time greats) as "second tier" is condescending and uninformed. As a frequent customer who is a Harrison & Petty centric rock fan, it's a turn-off to read drivel such as this.