The Missing Haul - Freedy Johnston - The Trouble Tree
I was stood at the till in Missing when the chap behind it advised that he couldn't find the CD by Willie Campbell of Astrid fame which I'd hoped to buy. This was a first for me although how they find anything given the quantity of CDs and albums they have is a mystery to me.
I therefore had to pick up something else as part of a 3 for £5 package and I opted for The Trouble Tree the 1990 debut album by Freedy Johnson on the Bar/None label.
I've had the 1992 follow up Can You Fly for years and it is a big favourite of mine. So much so that I chose it as one of the 50 Americana Albums to Hear Before you Die series.
After a first couple of listens I'm still unsure about The Trouble Tree .It's a bit raw. Reviews range from 4/5 by Allmusic to 1/5 by The New Rolling Stone Album Guide. I'm somewhere in the middle
Trouser Press write that it captures Johnston’s wheedling and whiny voice in extreme close-up, forcing listeners to seek refuge in overextended wordplay and spare guitar-based arrangements whereas The Spin Alternative Record Guide called it raw-sounding, infatuated with dangerous sorts, and a bit unformed lyrically.
Hopefully it will be a grower.
It appears to have two different covers. The one pictured above is the one I have.
Agree with your assessment. Big fan of Freedy, but I don’t think he really found his footing until the next album. - Brian
ReplyDeleteJudging by these 2 tracks I won't be rushing out to get anything by this chap who admittedly I'd never heard of before. The sole 'Gina' track I have in my iTunes library is far superior to this. Tantalising eh?
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