The Trouble Tree
| The Trouble Tree | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | 1990 | |||
| Recorded | April 1989–June 1989 at Water Music Recorders, Hoboken, NJ | |||
| Genre | Alternative rock | |||
| Length | 64:29 | |||
| Label | Bar/None[1] | |||
| Producer | Chris Butler[2] | |||
| Freedy Johnston chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   [3] |
| Robert Christgau |  [4] |
| The Encyclopedia of Popular Music | [2] |
| MusicHound Rock: The Essential Album Guide |  [5] |
| The New Rolling Stone Album Guide | [6] |
| Sounds | [7] |
| Spin Alternative Record Guide | 6/10[8] |
The Trouble Tree is the debut album by Freedy Johnston, released in 1990 through Bar/None Records.[9][10]
Production
The album was recorded in Hoboken, New Jersey.[11]
Critical reception
Trouser Press wrote that the album "captures Johnston’s wheedling and whiny voice in extreme close-up, forcing listeners to seek refuge in overextended wordplay and spare guitar-based arrangements."[12] The Spin Alternative Record Guide called it "raw-sounding, infatuated with dangerous sorts, and a bit unformed lyrically."[8]
Track listing
All tracks are written by Freedy Johnston.
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Innocent" | 2:26 |
| 2. | "Down on the Moon No. 1" | 3:24 |
| 3. | "No Violins" | 3:45 |
| 4. | "That's What You Get" | 3:38 |
| 5. | "Fun Ride" | 5:20 |
| 6. | "Gina" | 3:42 |
| 7. | "Nature Boy" | 4:46 |
| 8. | "Bad Girl" | 3:08 |
| 9. | "After My Shocks" | 2:54 |
| 10. | "Tucumcari" | 2:17 |
| 11. | "Down on the Moon No. 2" | 3:52 |
| 12. | "Little Red Haired Girl" | 4:33 |
| 13. | "[untitled]" | 20:39 |
Personnel
- Musicians
- Alan Bezozi – drums
- David Hamburger – guitar
- Freedy Johnston – vocals, guitar
- James MacMillan – bass guitar, engineering
- Doug Snodgrass – bass guitar
- Production and additional personnel
- Chris Butler – production, guitar on "Fun Ride" and "After My Shocks"
- Andy Burton – keyboards on "Fun Ride"
- B. Woody Giessmann – drums on "Little Red Haired Girl"
- John Halpern – photography
- Jody Harris – guitar on "Fun Ride"
References
- ^ "Freedy Johnston". Bar/None Records.
- ^ a b Larkin, Colin (2006). The Encyclopedia of Popular Music. Vol. 4. MUZE. p. 668.
- ^ Ankeny, Jason. "Trouble Tree". Allmusic. Retrieved February 3, 2013.
- ^ Christgau, Robert. "Freedy Johnston: The Trouble Tree". Robert Christgau.com. Retrieved February 3, 2013.
- ^ MusicHound Rock: The Essential Album Guide. Visible Ink Press. 1999. p. 612.
- ^ Brackett, Nathan; Hoard, Christian David (October 27, 2004). The New Rolling Stone Album Guide. Simon and Schuster. ISBN 9780743201698 – via Google Books.
- ^ Harris, John (March 30, 1991). "Freedy Johnston: The Trouble Tree". Sounds. p. 39.
- ^ a b Spin Alternative Record Guide. Vintage Books. 1995. pp. 201–202.
- ^ "Freedy Johnston | Biography & History". AllMusic.
- ^ "Freedy Johnston On World Cafe". NPR.org.
- ^ "Sounds". New York Magazine. New York Media, LLC. September 24, 1990 – via Google Books.
- ^ "Freedy Johnston". Trouser Press. Retrieved October 27, 2020.
External links
- The Trouble Tree at Discogs (list of releases)