Promise of Redemption - When the Flowers Bloom...

[Joe DeAndrea]

Promise Of Redemption – When The Flowers Bloom...
Release Date: December 4th, 2007 (Digital), January 22nd, 2008 (Physical)
Record Label: I Surrender Records

For those who don't know, Promise Of Redemption is the acoustic solo project featuring Shane Henderson, the vocalist of the pop-punk quintet Valencia. In May of 2006, Henderson tragically lost his girlfriend Dana Leigh Burrell and has now released When The Flowers Bloom... in dedication to her. Not very often do I find it hard to get through an album when I actually like it but knowing the story behind this, I just can't help but feel so sorry for what he has to be going through. Even though I've never experienced a situation quite like his, When The Flowers Bloom... is filled with such emotion and compassion, it's as if you know exactly how he's feeling.

The short, but shiver-inducing intro "Getting Through" starts off the record and flows nicely into the next track "How Fast," where the progression in Henderson's vocals show (compared to Valencia's last album) as he belts out lyrics such as "How fast can you have your bags packed? / I'm ready to blow this town. / If friendships are less important, I'm going to feel let down." Both of these songs provide heart-rending feelings in the listener, which is a consistent feeling all throughout the album that is due from not only the musical aspect, but lyrically as well.

However, not all the songs on this album were written after the tragedy. Tracks such as "Oh The Way," and especially "From The Second I Wake Up..." were written and recorded for Burrell while she was lucky enough to be able to listen to them. "From The Second I Wake Up..." is easily one of my favorite songs on When The Flowers Bloom... and was one of the first songs we got to hear from this album back when it premiered around a year ago. Since then, I've probably listened to it a good 50+ times and it always seems to send chills down my spine as Henderson sings about missing Burrell while he's out on the road and how he never wants her to change. "Live In Love," and "Dana Leigh" are amongst the songs that were written afterwards and are truly upsetting to listen to as you get a personal look into his sorrow.

Shane Henderson has put his heart into making these thirteen songs into such a personal album which is something that he deserves massive amount of respect for doing, as I know I would never be able to do such a thing. When The Flowers Bloom... will tug at your heart strings and make you appreciate the times you have with your loved ones and not take any of that for granted.

Track Listing
01. Getting Through
02. How Fast
03. From The Second I Wake Up...
04. Oh The Way
05. Remember The First Day
06. When The Flowers Bloom
07. Live In Love
08. Sunsets And Pictures
09. A Long Way Home
10. Rough Road Leads To The Stars
11. Dana Leigh
12. It Just Takes Time
13. Trace Those Steps

Myspace (http://www.myspace.com/promiseofredemption)
AP Profile (http://www.absolutepunk.net/promiseofredemption)
Buy the album (http://phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewAlbum?id=267803292&s=143441)

[Freeride]

See, now this is a good review, I listened to this cd today and agree with everything you said in this review. Very solid album.....now all i need is a new valencia cd aswell.

[Heart-A-Tact]

Good review. Definitely gonna check this out.

[faithinfastcars]

Very good album, very personal and still identifiable. Odds are it won't ever get the mainstream attention it deserves, but still an excellently written album with some wonderful standout tracks.

[whyte39]

wow. thanks for opening my eyes up to this.. Just listening to the songs on myspace have convinced me that i need to figure out how to purchase this.(i cant do the itunes thing.)

[katewithoutthee]

it is a great album; i would have appreciated a more in depth review with more exploration into the stand out songs on the album...for example the way that the lyrics in "from the second i wake up" pop up again in the ending of the album...which is stand out for those of us who have known the song for quite some time now...

"from the second i wake up" has been released for quite a while before this CD even came out and valencia has played it countless times live

edit: i know that you said that "from the second i wake up" was one of the first songs we heard before the CD came out, but it was around before the CD was even written

[Moral_Orel]

great review, great guy, great album.

[Debut_Fin]

The CD release show for this album was so emotional. It's such a great album.

The only thing about the album I don't like is that I feel at points it's TOO personal, like I'm reading someone's diary/journal and I'm not supposed to.

[vandalroyale]

I listened to the myspace stuff about 3 weeks or so ago and after 1 listen I stopped knowing I would be picking it when it came out. I can't wait to hear the final version

[Steve Henderson]

I wasn't a big fan of this at all, I am afraid - which is sad knowing the story. I agree that the story and themes here though are very personal and affecting.

Good review Joe - glad you dig it.

[altemose09]

i need to pick this up

[ashley916]

this album is nothing short of amazing. everyone should buy it <3

[serotoninzero]

Ah.
Wow.
Honestly, I've been really loving this album, but I didn't know the story behind it.
After doing some research and listening again, it's heartbreaking.
It's honestly going to make me want to cry every time I hear it.
Like Bayside - Winter or EC -Tears in Heaven.
It's a great album.

[sujinnj]

who sings the female vocals in "remember the first day"

[conair]

can anyone recommend other music in this vein? just good acoustic stuff

[EvenBetterYet]

who sings the female vocals in "remember the first day"

Rachel Minton of Zolof the Rock and Roll Destroyer

[neepz]

i've being listening to this a lot.. but i didn't know the story behind this.. it's way more emotional when you know it.. great album! great lyrics. everyone should get it.

and great review, Joe.

[gahbee__x]

"From The Second I Wake Up..." is easily one of my favorite songs on When The Flowers Bloom...

Mine too. I love this album, and is easily one of my favorites. Good review, Joe, you reminded me why I love this album so much.

[GreenJellyBean]

promise of redemption has been my #1 on last.fm every week for the past month and a half because of this album. i love it so much.

[ParisInFlames55]

i'm still on the fence with this record. i really like some songs, but its just a hard record to listen to start to finish.


can anyone recommend other music in this vein? just good acoustic stuff

joe wilson.

[YOUWONTKNOW]

if you check the myspace you can actually see his girlfriend and he actually posts on her wall sometimes..its truly sad and they will be in my prayers

[delldo]

The lyrics to his songs are very emotional and honest. That's what makes this album so great.

[xFayex]

Nice review, I'd give it more than 80% though! This album has won my heart. I first listened to it over a month ago, and I haven't been able to stop listening to it since. It is truly an amazingly beautiful piece of work. It's heartbreaking knowing the story behind it, the lyrics are so intimate and very moving, and his voice is outstanding and you can feel every emotion. I can relate to some of the songs, which makes me appreciate it even more. I pre-ordered it a week or so ago, I had to, it's wonderful. The free flower seeds that come with it is such a cute freebie. :) I recommend this album a lot.

[Miss Heartcore]

this album gets better and better each time i listen to it.

some of his best vocal work. <3

[thehighcourt]

I believe when you buy the record some of the money goes to a sweet charity.... Everyone should pick this up!

[streydogg]

brilliant album. it is very emotional and very well written. my favorite so far this year.

[konfused_ox]

who sings the female vocals in "remember the first day"
Rachel Minton of Zolof and the Rock and Roll Destroyer

[katewithoutthee]

Who sings backups on How Fast?

[EvenBetterYet]

Who sings backups on How Fast?

Trevor Leonard of Procession Came Opposite

[stugreenham]

This album really is top stuff! i just cant turn it off

[delvec19]

if you check the myspace you can actually see his girlfriend and he actually posts on her wall sometimes..its truly sad and they will be in my prayers

This is so very sad. You can read the story of what happened to her here: http://www.mydeathspace.com/article/2006/11/11/Dana_Burrell_(18)_was_killed_in_a_f reak_lawnmower_accident

She was such a pretty girl and its unreal how she died. Very sad stuff.

[stugreenham]

This is so very sad. You can read the story of what happened to her here: http://www.mydeathspace.com/article/2006/11/11/Dana_Burrell_(18)_was_killed_in_a_f reak_lawnmower_accident (http://www.mydeathspace.com/article/2006/11/11/Dana_Burrell_%2818%29_was_killed_in _a_freak_lawnmower_accident)

She was such a pretty girl and its unreal how she died. Very sad stuff.

Omg thats really sad! the lyrics are so deep, real emotional, I checked out the myspace, its so sad, its nice they kept it up as it makes u see what kind of girl she was and how close they were!

[DarkBlue13]

wonderful review. i just downloaded this and i'm blown away by the raw emotion

[raptorz44]

I like to think of We All Need a Reason to Believe as a companion to this album, lyrically. While this album is basically Shane just letting out all his emotion and sadness, WAMARTB is basically as the song "Carry On" is, him carrying on.