Our Finest Flowers

by The Residents

Overview

As part of their 20-year retrospective, the Residents shunned a typical greatest-hits package (there have been plenty of those), and instead recorded an album of reinterpretations of their own catalog -- sort of. This is cut-and-paste revisionism, with a melody line from one song, bass parts from another, and lyrics from yet another. Being such, it will make much more sense to the hardened fan than the casual listener. And unlike the previous year's Freak Show, their knack for creating a sonically interesting album returns. "Jungle Bunny," for example, meshes together the Snakefinger song "Picnic in the Jungle" with "Monkey and Bunny," the song written with Renaldo & the Loaf, and brings out a little more of the humor. "Ship of Fools" takes apart "Ship's a Goin' Down" and places it underneath Mark of the Mole's "Worker's Hymn," switching over to a lovely snatch of God in Three Persons for the chorus -- the result is undoubtedly more than the sum of its parts, and possibly not greater, but there is a catharsis to hear all these varying themes come together. The group almost makes sense of its history and creates mystery once again. ~ Ted Mills

Product Details

Release Date:	04/22/2023
Label:	Cryptic Corporation
UPC:	5013929362017

Tracks

1. Gone Again
2. The Sour Song
3. Six Amber Things
4. Mr. Lonely
5. Perfect Goat
6. Blue Tongues
7. Jungle Bunny
8. I'm Dreaming Of A White Sailor
9. Or Maybe A Marine
10. Kick A Picnic
11. Dead Wood
12. Baby Sister
13. Forty-Four No More
14. He Also Serves
15. Ship Of Fools
16. Be Kind To U-WEB Footed Friends

Album Credits

Performance Credits

The Residents   Primary Artist,Vocals
Tony Janssen   Vocals
Nessie Lessons   Vocals
Diana Alden   Vocals

Technical Credits

Tony Janssen   Mixing
Snakefinger   Inspiration
The Residents   Mixing,Composer
Rex Ray   Cover Design,Package Design
Henrik Kam   Cover Photo,Photography