The Spill Magazine The Spill Magazine
The Spill Magazine The Spill Magazine
The Spill Magazine The Spill Magazine
  • Reviews
    • Album Reviews
    • Features
    • Live Reviews
    • Festivals
  • Portraits
  • Headlines
    • News
    • Contests
    • Events
    • Entertainment Headlines
    • Concert Listings
    • Toronto Concert Venues
  • New Music
    • Premieres
    • Track Of The Day
  • Track Of The Month
  • Books + Movies
  • About
16
new
SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: MARIANNE FAITHFULL – KISSIN’ TIME (REISSUE)
SPILL VIDEO PREMIERE: EDNA FRAU – “ON THE LONG RUN”
SPILL MUSIC PREMIERE: GHOST LOVE – “MOURNERS DISCO”
SPILL NEW MUSIC: SUBWAY TO SALLY SETS SAIL WITH SECOND SINGLE “LEINEN LOS” + UNVEILS ANIMATED OFFICIAL MUSIC VIDEO
SPILL MUSIC PREMIERE: UNIVERSAL HONEY – “TIME BLINDNESS”
SPILL VIDEO PREMIERE: THE NATIONAL HONOR SOCIETY – “IN YOUR EYES”
SPILL NEWS: ALEXISONFIRE ANNOUNCE TORONTO PERFORMANCE JUNE 16 AT BUDWEISER STAGE WITH SPECIAL GUESTS PUP AND METZ
SPILL NEWS: PUBLIC IMAGE LTD RELEASE VIDEO FOR NEW SONG “HAWAII” | GROUP WILL COMPETE TO REPRESENT IRELAND AT EUROVISION 2023
SPILL FESTIVAL REVIEW: WINTERSONG MUSIC FESTIVAL: MEN WITHOUT HATS & STARS @ SPRING LAKES GOLF CLUB, WHITCHURCH-STOUFFVILLE
SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: BENJI TRANTER – SONGS TO MAKE YOU HAPPY
SPILL NEW MUSIC: BJÖRK RELEASES “ovule FT. SHYGIRL (SEGA BODEGA REMIX)”
SPILL NEW MUSIC: LEATHERS DROPS NEW SINGLE “HIGHRISE” VIA ARTOFFACT RECORDS
SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: SIV JAKOBSEN – GARDENING
SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: JULY TALK – REMEMBER NEVER BEFORE
SPILL NEW MUSIC: L.A. EDWARDS PREMIERES NEW MUSIC VIDEO FOR “ALREADY GONE”
SPILL VIDEO PREMIERE: ON – “BREAK YOU”
  • Reviews
    • Album Reviews
    • Features
    • Live Reviews
    • Festivals
  • Portraits
  • Headlines
    • News
    • Contests
    • Events
    • Entertainment Headlines
    • Concert Listings
    • Toronto Concert Venues
  • New Music
    • Premieres
    • Track Of The Day
  • Track Of The Month
  • Books + Movies
  • About
  • Spill Menu
    • Reviews
      • Album Reviews
      • Features
      • Live Reviews
      • Festivals
    • Portraits
    • Headlines
      • News
      • Contests
      • Events
      • Entertainment Headlines
      • Concert Listings
      • Toronto Concert Venues
    • New Music
      • Premieres
      • Track Of The Day
    • Track Of The Month
    • Books + Movies
    • About
Album Reviews
296
previous article
SPILL NEW MUSIC: JULIANA HATFIELD RETURNS WITH 'WEIRD' NEW ALBUM OF ORIGINALS VIA AMERICAN LAUNDROMAT RECORDS
next article
SPILL VIDEO PREMIERE: JULEAH - "ANALOGUE"

SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: TONY MALONE – FLOWERS FOR ARMAGEDDON

Tony Malone

Tony Malone
Flowers For Armageddon
Independent

Tony Malone was part of the original Queen Street punk scene in the late 1970s. At that time he was a member of The Dishes, after which he formed Drastic Measures. Malone wrote some of the finest pop/new wave songs of the time and Drastic Measures’ self-titled album is a classic, but after that, there was relative silence. A compilation album and a new band (Basketcase) surfaced in the 1990s, but more silence followed. Flowers for Armageddon—Malone’s first album of new material since Basketcase’s You People Are Sick, released in 1995—is a fresh new approach to pop and avant garde.

A concept album of sorts about an individual waking to witness the end of the world, Flowers for Armageddon is an incredible listening experience. Though not exactly light fare, Malone’s friendly manner allows the listener to be happily sucked into his alternate universe. Malone approaches songs as if they were miniature operas, not in style but in form. He uses repetition as an instrument (especially in songs such as “Run Joni Run”). Listeners will find themselves bouncing along to infectious melodies and beats, despite the darkness of the lyrics.

In some ways, this is Malone’s White Album; it is full of different sounds, music, and genres, and “Armageddon” could even be described as the album’s “Revolution 9”. The joy of this album comes from its many surprises, including the hidden tracks at the end, which are well worth the wait.

Malone plays most of the instruments and loops, but he is aided here and there by past collaborators, including Michael Ursini of Uforia and Alec Pulec, among others. However, this is Malone’s vision in every aspect, including the brilliant cover art, and it all comes together remarkably well.

Flowers for Armageddon is a long-overdue reminder of Malone’s genius, and it is somewhat disheartening to think that his voice has been absent for so long. Though he has produced and collaborated on other artists’ albums, he always leaves the audience wanting more. Considering the ominous title, I hope that this is not Malone’s goodbye, but rather the beginning of a new chapter.



Artist Links

website_flat_2016 facebook_flat_2016 twitter_flat_2016

close

STAY UP-TO-DATE
WITH OUR WEEKLY NEWSLETTER!

* Mandatory Field

Check your inbox or spam folder now (just in case!) to confirm your subscription.

Item Reviewed

SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: TONY MALONE – FLOWERS FOR ARMAGEDDON

Author

Aaron Badgley

Here's what we think...
Spill Rating
Fan Rating
Rate Here
New Criteria
10
9.7
8.0
Total Spill Rating
9.7
Total Fan Rating
3 ratings
You have rated this
Album Reviews
album reviewalbum reviewsflowers for armageddontony malone
album review, album reviews, flowers for armageddon, tony malone
About the Author
Aaron Badgley
Born and raised in Whitby, Aaron discovered music through his love of The Beatles. This led to a career in radio, writing for various publications, and ultimately a radio show about The Beatles (Beatles Universe), which ran for over four years. When not immersed in music, Aaron enjoys spending time with the loves of his life -- his wife Andrea, and daughters Emily and Linda (all of whom have an intense love of music too).
RELATED ARTICLES
album reviewalbum reviewstony malone
 
8.0
Marianne Faithfull

SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: MARIANNE FAITHFULL – KISSIN’ TIME (REISSUE)

by Aaron Badgley on January 27, 2023
Marianne Faithfull Kissin’ Time (Reissue) BMG By 2002 Marianne Faithful was eager to return to a more contemporary sound following albums in which she focused on Kurt Weill. These include Weill recording and performing his opera The Seven [...]
 
8.0
Benji Tranter
10

SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: BENJI TRANTER – SONGS TO MAKE YOU HAPPY

by Ljubinko Zivkovic on January 20, 2023
Benji Tranter Songs To Make You Happy Pear O’Legs Records Currently, it seems that bedroom pop as a specific genre started to include so many things, with one constant – excellent melody lines. If you accept such a definition, then [...]
 
8.0
Siv Jakobsen

SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: SIV JAKOBSEN – GARDENING

by Ljubinko Zivkovic on January 20, 2023
Siv Jakobsen Gardening The Nordic Mellow Norwegian singer songwriter Siv Jakobsen seems to love touring, as she spent most of her career so far on the road. Having that in mind, one would think that she shies away from the studio, or that is the [...]
 
8.0
July Talk

SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: JULY TALK – REMEMBER NEVER BEFORE

by Gerrod Harris on January 20, 2023
July Talk Remember Never Before Six Shooter Records The polarity between lead vocalists Leah Fay Goldstein and Peter Dreimanis remains the core of July Talk’s appeal. Even with an expanded lineup, this remains true on their fourth album, [...]
 
8.0
Whitehorse
9.3

SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: WHITEHORSE – I’M NOT CRYING, YOU’RE CRYING

by Ljubinko Zivkovic on January 13, 2023
Whitehorse I’m Not Crying, You’re Crying Six Shooter Records OK, so with their latest album, I’m Not Crying, You’re Crying, Whitehorse, duo comprising Melissa McClelland and Luke Doucet, dispel two debatable things. [...]

Latest Album Reviews
View All
 
SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: MARIANNE FAITHFULL – KISSIN’ TIME (...
8.0
 
SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: BENJI TRANTER – SONGS TO MAKE YOU HAPPY
8.0
10
 
SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: SIV JAKOBSEN – GARDENING
8.0
 
SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: JULY TALK – REMEMBER NEVER BEFORE
8.0
 
SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: WHITEHORSE – I’M NOT CRYING, YOU...
8.0
9.3

STAY UP-TO-DATE
WITH OUR WEEKLY NEWSLETTER!

* Mandatory Field

Check your inbox or spam folder now (just in case!) to confirm your subscription.

Tweets by @spillmagazine

SPILL MAGAZINE MENU
  • Home | The Spill Magazine
  • Premieres
  • Track Of The Month
  • Album Reviews
  • Books + Movies
  • Features
  • Live Reviews
  • Festivals
  • Portraits
  • News
  • Events
  • Entertainment Headlines
  • Concert Listings
  • Toronto Concert Venues
  • About Us
  • Contests
  • New Music
  • Contributors
  • TOTD
  • Privacy Policy
  • The Scene Unseen
  • Newsletter

Copyright © 2023 | The Spill Magazine
All Rights Reserved.

TRENDING RIGHT NOW
   
 
SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: QUADECA – I DIDN’T MEAN TO HAUNT YOU
2312
 
SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: THE HUMAN LEAGUE – THE VIRGIN YEARS
1827
 
SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: SHRIEKBACK – BOWLAHOOLA
745
 
SPILL LIVE REVIEW: SUEDE AND MANIC STREET PREACHERS @ THE COMMODORE BALLROOM, VANCOUVER
517
 
SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: CHEAP TRICK – LIVE AT THE WHISKY 1977
489
 
SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: ELVIS PRESLEY – ELVIS ON TOUR
433
 
SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: DAVID CROSBY & THE LIGHTHOUSE BAND – LIVE AT THE CAPITAL THEATRE
335
 
SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: NAZZ – LOST MASTERS & DEMOS
325
 
SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: LITTLE RIVER BAND – ULTIMATE HITS/MASTERPIECES
314
 
SPILL MUSIC PREMIERE: GRAMERCY ARMS – “YESTERDAY’S GIRL” FT. LLOYD COLE
312
 
SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: JOAN ARMATRADING – LIVE AT ASYLUM CHAPEL
303
 
SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: RINGO STARR AND HIS ALL-STARR BAND – LIVE AT THE GREEK THEATRE 2019
253
 
SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: JEAN-MICHEL JARRE – THE CONCERTS IN CHINA (40th ANNIVERSARY EDITION)
251
ENTERTAINMENT HEADLINES