The Trouble Tree

Last updated
The Trouble Tree
Freedy Johnston - The Trouble Tree.jpg
Studio album by
Released1990
RecordedApril 1989 (1989-04)–June 1989 (1989-06) at Water Music Recorders, Hoboken, NJ
Genre Alternative rock
Length64:29
Label Bar/None [1]
Producer Chris Butler [2]
Freedy Johnston chronology
The Trouble Tree
(1990)
Can You Fly
(1992)
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [3]
Robert Christgau Five Pointed Star Solid.svg Five Pointed Star Solid.svg Five Pointed Star Solid.svg [4]
The Encyclopedia of Popular Music Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [2]
MusicHound Rock: The Essential Album Guide Star full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [5]
The New Rolling Stone Album Guide Star full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [6]
Sounds Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svgStar empty.svg [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]

Contents

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 #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 #2"3:52
12."Little Red Haired Girl"4:33
13."[untitled]"20:39

Personnel

Musicians
Production and additional personnel

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References

  1. "Freedy Johnston". Bar/None Records.
  2. 1 2 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. 1 2 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.