Tom Petty

Songs and Music
from the Motion Picture
She's the One

Here's another album that grew on me with repeated listens. I still prefer Petty's previous effort Wildflowers, but this one comes pretty close to the mark set by that album.

There are two songs on the disc that Petty chose to record and release in two different versions. The first is Walls which kicks off the album with its Beatles and Byrds inspired psychedelic version, aptly titled Walls (Circus). The version appearing later in the disc is more barren and Dylanesque in nature. The second song to appear twice is Angel Dream. Both versions borrow a page from the Simon and Garfunkel book. The first to appear is more like the Bridge over Troubled Water era, while the later version borrows from the Wednesday Morning, 3 A.M. era. One of my favorites on this disc is Hung Up and Overdue which borrows heavily from The Beach Boys' Pet Sounds album.

Most notable on this disc is Petty's merging into a pattern similar to Neil Young's. His Heartbreakers are like Young's Crazy Horse, and his sound blends from solitary acoustic music to all-out feedback-laden rockers. It certainly keeps things fresh with the stark contrast between the styles and seems to fit Petty as well as it fits Young. 

1 Star:   Pitiful
2 Stars: Listenable
3 Stars: Respectable
4 Stars: Excellent
5 Stars: Can't Live Without It!!