The Trouble Tree

The Trouble Tree
Studio album by
Freedy Johnston
Released1990
RecordedApril 1989 (1989-04)–June 1989 (1989-06) at Water Music Recorders, Hoboken, NJ
GenreAlternative rock
Length64:29
LabelBar/None[1]
ProducerChris Butler[2]
Freedy Johnston chronology
The Trouble Tree
(1990) 		Can You Fly
(1992)
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[3]
Robert Christgau(3-star Honorable Mention)(3-star Honorable Mention)(3-star Honorable Mention)[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 Guide6/10[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.TitleLength
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

  1. ^ "Freedy Johnston". Bar/None Records.
  2. ^ a b Larkin, Colin (2006). The Encyclopedia of Popular Music. Vol. 4. MUZE. p. 668.
  3. ^ Ankeny, Jason. "Trouble Tree". Allmusic. Retrieved February 3, 2013.
  4. ^ Christgau, Robert. "Freedy Johnston: The Trouble Tree". Robert Christgau.com. Retrieved February 3, 2013.
  5. ^ MusicHound Rock: The Essential Album Guide. Visible Ink Press. 1999. p. 612.
  6. ^ Brackett, Nathan; Hoard, Christian David (October 27, 2004). The New Rolling Stone Album Guide. Simon and Schuster. ISBN 9780743201698 – via Google Books.
  7. ^ Harris, John (30 March 1991). "Freedy Johnston: The Trouble Tree". Sounds. p. 39.
  8. ^ a b Spin Alternative Record Guide. Vintage Books. 1995. pp. 201–202.
  9. ^ "Freedy Johnston | Biography & History". AllMusic.
  10. ^ "Freedy Johnston On World Cafe". NPR.org.
  11. ^ "Sounds". New York Magazine. New York Media, LLC. September 24, 1990 – via Google Books.
  12. ^ "Freedy Johnston". Trouser Press. Retrieved 27 October 2020.