Kathleen Edwards - Asking For Flowers A lushly produced but decidely downbeat affair from what sure sounds a like a bummed-out Kathleen Edwards, "Asking for Flowers" hits its mark some of the time, but disappears into soft focus for its remainder. Edwards is best, I believe, when she is fired up enough to snap out of the cloudy miasma of ennui that makes a reflective ballad like "Buffalo" a major buzz-kill. So 'The Cheapest Key" presents itself as the twin sister of Warren Zevon"s "Poor Poor Pitiful Me," as it rolls along on the strength of Bob Packwood"s barrelhouse piano, and Edwards spits out a litany of her lover"s sins. This doesn't happen quite often enough to lift "Flowers" out of its self-imposed doldrums, however, and the glut of midtempo confessionals gets a bit cloying after 20 minutes or so. "I Make the Dough, You Get the Glory" and "Oil Man"s War" inject some badly needed humor, and "Sure As Shit" is probably Edwards" most incisive lyric yet. But on balance, these "Flowers" could use a little more sunlight. Rating: 2.5 out of 5 Jeff Miers The Buffalo News				Album reviews Feature articles Interviews Show reviews