Illiterature

Illiterature
Studio album by Adam Schmitt
Released	August 24, 1993
Recorded	May 1992, October 1992 – January 1993
Studio	Pachyderm
Genre	Alternative rock [1]
Length	59:54
Label	Reprise
Producer	Adam Schmitt
Adam Schmitt chronology
World So Bright (1991) Illiterature (1993) Demolition (2001)

Illiterature is the second studio album from Adam Schmitt, released by Reprise Records in August 1993. The album received positive reviews but little promotion and was commercially unsuccessful. ^[2] Schmitt toured with Tommy Keene to promote the record. ^[3]

Background

Following the release of his debut album World So Bright , Adam Schmitt suffered a car accident that rendered him immobile for six months. During this time, Schmitt wrote the material for his second album. ^[3] Assuming the sole responsibilities of producer, Schmitt aimed to make a more guitar-centric record than World So Bright. ^[4]

Production

Initial recordings were done at Pachyderm Studios in Cannon Falls, Minnesota in May 1992. Further recording was conducted at Schmitt's home studio throughout October 1992 to January 1993. ^[5]

Critical reception

John M. Borack of Trouser Press described the album as "moodier" and "grungier", calling it as "a strong sophomore success". ^[6] Parke Puterbaugh of Stereo Review labeled the album as "promising" and singled out "Three Faces West"; writing that "carefully layered guitars and limpid bass tones frame an affecting vocal from Schmitt." ^[7] Will Harris of A.V. Club said Illiterature found Schmitt "expanding his sonic palate" elaborating with "moving well beyond the simple form of the three-minute pop song". ^[8] The Album Network said Illiterature "found the pulse of rock 'n roll in the 90s", particularly praising "Rip It Off" as "hard, angry and dark, and yet it also possesses a certain amount of melody and pop sensibility." ^[9]

More negatively, Stewart Mason of AllMusic wrote "the grunge-style guitars obscure the songs' inherent charms and the pointless elongation of several tracks -- sounds like Schmitt was trying to pad the album to a reasonable length". ^[1]

Track listing

All tracks are written by Adam Schmitt.

Illiterature track listing

No.	Title	Length
1.	"Just Listen"	3:32
2.	"Waiting to Shine"	3:23
3.	"Felt So Cool"	3:00
4.	"Catching Up"	3:21
5.	"Three Faces West"	6:53
6.	"Illiterature"	3:33
7.	"More of the Same"	4:17
8.	"Rip It Off"	2:58
9.	"Me and You"	4:16
10.	"Shreds"	4:12
11.	"Thanks for Showing"	6:09
12.	"Flow"	14:11
Total length:		59:54

Personnel

• Adam Schmitt – all vocals and instruments except as noted
• John Richardson – drums ^[a]
• Brad Quinn – bass ^[b]

Additional musicians

• Jay Bennett – guitar solo on "Waiting to Shine"
• Tommy Keene – end guitar solo on "Three Faces West"

Production

• Adam Schmitt – producing, engineering, mixing
• Chris Shepard – engineering, mixing
• Matt Allison – engineering, mixing
• Scott Hull – mastering
• Jon Pines – editing assistant
• Michael Wilson – photography
• Kim Champagne – art direction
• John Heiden – design

Notes

1. On all tracks except "Three Faces West", "Thanks for Showing", and "Flow"
2. On all tracks except "Waiting to Shine", "Me and You", "Shreds", "Thanks for Showing", and "Flow"

References

1. Mason, Stewart. "Illiterature Review". AllMusic . Retrieved October 21, 2024.
2. Huisseune, Rick (September 18, 2010). "Interview – Adam Schmitt". Melodic . Retrieved October 21, 2024.
3. Wheeler, Drew (September 4, 1993). "High Illiterature". Billboard. p. 17.
4. Hermon, Terry (1998). "Adam Schmitt Interview". Bucketfull of Brains. No. 52. p. 13.
5. Illiterature (Media notes). Reprise Records. 1993.
6. Borack, John. "Adam Schmitt". Trouser Press . Retrieved October 21, 2024.
7. Puterbaugh, Parke (February 1994). "Popular Music Reviews: Illiterature". Stereo Review .
8. "The A.V. Club's favorite guitar solos". The A.V. Club . November 22, 2013. Retrieved October 21, 2024.
9. "The Album Network - Best New Music" (PDF). World Radio History. August 27, 1993. Retrieved February 11, 2025.