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In an era of music that many see as disingenuous, bands such as Couch, Edgehill, Stolen Gin, and Earthquake Lights are attempting to provide an authentic musical experience. Penelope Road, an Atlanta-based five-piece outlet, is the latest to insert themselves into the conversation, labeling their sound as “stanky funky junk,” as elements of classic rock, soul, jazz, and funk permeate their material. 

 “Flowers (Carry Me Home)” is the band’s second release of 2025, following “Out Tonight,” released in May, and their debut self-titled EP released in May of 2024. Songs from that EP, such as the standout “What Can I Do” and “2009,” lean into the more in-the-pocket, laid-back approach of contemporary jazz, both musically and vocally, and the results are commendable. 

 With “Flowers,” the band has shifted to a Foreigner, Genesis-like arena-rock direction, featuring a euphoric key change, swift drum fills, and a universal keys riff that, like many of its kind, is nearly gospel-like though invariably pop in its nature. 

 From its opening instrumental notes, the tune establishes a sense of grandness, which is quickly reiterated by lead singer Max Moore’s starting line, “I don’t know if I got it all wrong,” with a slick three-note trill on “all.” Ultimately, the song is about surrender, the hope of reconciliation, and pleading for kinship, as displayed by the reiterative line, “You carry me home, just to leave me alone.” Despite being left alone, the level of devotion for this lover is emphasized by the guitar solo, serving as the bridge, leading up to the seamless key change and subsequent vocal adlibs. Extremely reminiscent of classic 80’s rock, the vocal dynamics, aka the degree of loudness or softness the lines are sung with, of both the lead and layered vocal harmonies exhibit the bands understanding of the melodic and structural science of this type of tune. 

 For a band so thoroughly educated in the history of popular music (several of them studied at Emory College in Atlanta), as well as their familiarity with relevant artists forging a similar path, such as Mk.gee, Penelope Road are primed for success in an adult-contemporary music market.

 Listen to “Flowers (Carry Me Home)” here: