Reviewed July 22, 1999
I don't know how to explain Oleander's February Son , other than to tell you it's an excellent album. The best song, "Why I'm Here" is what got me hooked the first time I heard it on the radio, playing next to songs from Godsmack and Black Sabbath.

I have seen Oleander being compared to Nirvana. What? Oleander sound like nothing I have ever heard before. The most obvious difference is lead singer Thomas Flowers' ability to sing. Kurt Cobain made his lyrics impossible to understand while Flowers properly enunciates everything. Then there's the lyrics themselves. Oleander mostly deal with romantic issues. They even have a totally mellow song - "How Could I?".

Every song on this disc is good in its own way. There's plenty of variety between, and even within the soundscapes of the songs, making the album good for continuous play. But the similar lyrics of every song detract from the same quality. It's still a good album, though, so I say it deserves four of five stars.