Search - John Flynn :: Two Wolves

Potent messages and efficacious imagery

J. Ross | Roseburg, OR USA | 11/24/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Playing Time - 49:54



Who They Are: John Flynn is a self-professed introspective contemporary folksinger and activist whose songs come from the heart.



Little Known Facts: John earned a 1980 degree from Temple University in political science



The Songs: Potent messages and efficacious imagery are presented in his ten self-penned songs. "There's No Them There," embellished with nicely-tailored harmonies, calls for a "a brand new way of seeing, a brand new way of freeing our fellow human beings by simply being kind." "No More War" declares "Violence has left its stain, Its drug is in our veins, It screams slay or be slain, It is a liar." A song for the fallen, "Dover" asks the big airplane to bring `em down easy out of the Delaware sky. Only 12-years-old, "Azizullah" is the sad tale of another casualty of war. Guitar, cello and oboe complement the reflective "Blink" with Flynn's observation "We blink and somehow time just flies." Kathy Mattea harmonizes on "My Father's Chapel," a call for understanding with "My father's chapel has many benches, Pews where the stranger may rest his feet." A radiant song of love remembered is "Sunflower" that exclaims "I would not trade the sunflower I held for a whole garden of flowers." Covers come from Phil Ochs ("Pleasures of the Harbor") and Kris Kristofferson ("Hall of Angels").



The Musicians: "Two Wolves" has some impressive talent with Kris Kristofferson, Kathy Mattea, and splendid instrumentalists like guitarists Duke Levine (Mary Chapin Carpenter, Bill Morrissey) and Larry Campbell (Bob Dylan, Paul Simon, Dar Williams), drummer Denny McDermott (Roseanne Cash, Donald Fagen), and singer Jane Kelly Williams. Producer Ben Wisch (Marc Cohn, Patty Larkin) has had a long and successful association with John Flynn.



Of Special Note: Flynn's harmonica provides some sweet conversational fill.



The Bottomline: An affable troubadour with strong messages that encourage peace, fairness, compassion, tolerance and optimism



Reviewed By: Joe Ross (staff writer, Bluegrass Now)

"

A beautiful album with a big heart--and a conscience.

Christopher Kent | 04/16/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"In an age when mainstream music (and mainstream media) are surprisingly quiet about the troubling realities of the world we live in, John Flynn is a voice for compassion and awareness. This is a great album, beautifully produced and easy to listen to. The songs cover a wide range of topics and emotions, but the most memorable songs return to the central theme of the CD: We need to open our eyes to what's going on in the world--what's being done in our names--and stand up for peace and justice. It's tough to write songs like that without crossing the line into preaching, but John does a great job here. Plus, unlike early Dylan, where the production was minimal and you listened mostly for the words, these songs are beautifully arranged and played by pros (including John, of course!) Kris Kristofferson's presence, in the form of vocals on the rousing second track, and the song "Halls of Angels," adds a nice touch.

This is a terrifc piece of work by an artist who deserves to be heard by a much wider audience."