The Thorns: The Thorns : Music Reviews : Rolling Stone

Album Reviews

Matthew Sweet, Pete Droge and Shawn Mullins combine for a singer-songwriter bonanza! Call it a semi-supergroup. Three somewhat popular singer-songwriters team up as the Thorns: power-pop hero Matthew Sweet, roots rocker Pete Droge and folkie Shawn Mullins (famous for ten minutes in 1998, with the huge single "Lullaby"). The trio isn't greater than the sum of its parts, but The Thorns is, nevertheless, pleasant listening, with thirteen songs heavy on the acoustic guitars and the harmonies. The lovelorn ballads (of which there are plenty) have some lyrical sting, with kiss-off lines such as "I can't remember a way to make you cry." And the band has a few surprises, like its theme song, "Thorns," a trippy slice of glam rock reminiscent of T. Rex. Who mixed the glitter with the granola?

GAVIN EDWARDS
(RS 923, May 29, 2003)