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Freedy Johnston's major-label debut is less consistently stunning than its predecessor, 1992's Can You Fly but, taken on its own terms, it affirms his position as one of the best songwriters of his generation. Certainly no one paints more evocative portraits of lonely, disappointed people. The majority of these 12 tracks are about men who either know or strongly suspect that they've done something unforgivable, and such is Johnston's mastery as a lyricist that it's even subtly apparent when his narrators are lying to themselves. Johnston frames his bleak narratives with melodic, chiming folk-rock; if anything, the predominantly mid-tempo songs and radio-ready Butch Vig production are a little too smooth, robbing This Perfect World of the edge that made Can You Fly so piercing. The most memorable tracks are the sparsest ones, where Johnston's words and appealingly plain voice take center stage. In addition to the melancholy opener, "Bad Reputation," other highlights include "Can't Shake This Town" and the witty "Dolores" -- few songwriters could pack so many Lolita allusions into three minutes of guitar pop without sounding too clever by half. Best of all is the mournful, eerie title track, which describes the possibly mortal sins of one man's past and the hopelessness of his future with the economy and punch of a good short story.
© Kristi Coulter /TiVo
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Larry Fast, Editor - Butch Vig, Producer, Mixer, Drums, Percussion - Howie Weinberg, Masterer - WARREN RIKER, AdditionalEngineer - JOHN SIKET, Recorder - DOUG ERIKSON, Mixer - Dave Schramm, Guitar - John Yates, Bass Guitar, AdditionalEngineer - Ron London, AdditionalEngineer - Freedy Johnston, Composer, Acoustic Guitar, Electric Guitar, Lead Vocals, Writer, MainArtist - Chris Bailey, Production
© 1994 Elektra Entertainment, a Division of Warner Communications Inc. for the United States and WEA International Inc. for the world outside of the United States. ℗ 1994 Elektra Entertainment, a division of Warner Communications Inc. for the United Sates and WEA International Inc. for the world outside of the United States.
Larry Fast, Editor - Butch Vig, Producer, Mixer - Marshall Crenshaw, Guitar - Howie Weinberg, Masterer - Marc Ribot, Guitar - WARREN RIKER, AdditionalEngineer - JOHN SIKET, Recorder - Graham Maby, Bass Guitar - DOUG ERIKSON, Mixer, Piano - John Yates, AdditionalEngineer - Ron London, AdditionalEngineer - Freedy Johnston, Composer, Acoustic Guitar, Electric Guitar, Lead Vocals, Writer, MainArtist - Chris Bailey, Production - Frank Vilardi, Drums
© 1994 Elektra Entertainment, a Division of Warner Communications Inc. for the United States and WEA International Inc. for the world outside of the United States. ℗ 1994 Elektra Entertainment, a division of Warner Communications Inc. for the United Sates and WEA International Inc. for the world outside of the United States.
Larry Fast, Editor - Butch Vig, Producer, Mixer - Howie Weinberg, Masterer - WARREN RIKER, AdditionalEngineer - JOHN SIKET, Recorder - DOUG ERIKSON, Mixer - Dave Schramm, Bass Guitar - John Yates, AdditionalEngineer - Ron London, AdditionalEngineer - Mary Gaines, Backing Vocals - Freedy Johnston, Composer, Acoustic Guitar, Electric Guitar, Lead Vocals, Writer, MainArtist - Chris Bailey, Production
© 1994 Elektra Entertainment, a Division of Warner Communications Inc. for the United States and WEA International Inc. for the world outside of the United States. ℗ 1994 Elektra Entertainment, a division of Warner Communications Inc. for the United Sates and WEA International Inc. for the world outside of the United States.
Jane Scarpantoni, Cello - Larry Fast, Editor - Butch Vig, Producer, Mixer - Howie Weinberg, Masterer - Marc Ribot, Guitar - WARREN RIKER, AdditionalEngineer - JOHN SIKET, Recorder - Graham Maby, Bass Guitar - DOUG ERIKSON, Mixer - John Yates, AdditionalEngineer - Ron London, AdditionalEngineer - Freedy Johnston, Composer, Acoustic Guitar, Electric Guitar, Lead Vocals, Writer, MainArtist - Chris Bailey, Production - Frank Vilardi, Drums
© 1994 Elektra Entertainment, a Division of Warner Communications Inc. for the United States and WEA International Inc. for the world outside of the United States. ℗ 1994 Elektra Entertainment, a division of Warner Communications Inc. for the United Sates and WEA International Inc. for the world outside of the United States.
Larry Fast, Editor - Butch Vig, Producer, Mixer - Howie Weinberg, Masterer - Marc Ribot, Guitar - WARREN RIKER, AdditionalEngineer - JOHN SIKET, Recorder - Graham Maby, Bass Guitar - DOUG ERIKSON, Mixer - John Yates, AdditionalEngineer - Ron London, AdditionalEngineer - Mary Gaines, Backing Vocals - Freedy Johnston, Composer, Acoustic Guitar, Electric Guitar, Lead Vocals, Writer, MainArtist - Chris Bailey, Production - Frank Vilardi, Drums
© 1994 Elektra Entertainment, a Division of Warner Communications Inc. for the United States and WEA International Inc. for the world outside of the United States. ℗ 1994 Elektra Entertainment, a division of Warner Communications Inc. for the United Sates and WEA International Inc. for the world outside of the United States.
Larry Fast, Editor - Butch Vig, Producer, Mixer - Howie Weinberg, Masterer - WARREN RIKER, AdditionalEngineer - JOHN SIKET, Recorder - Graham Maby, Bass Guitar - DOUG ERIKSON, Mixer - Dave Schramm, Guitar - John Yates, AdditionalEngineer - Ron London, AdditionalEngineer - Freedy Johnston, Composer, Acoustic Guitar, Electric Guitar, Lead Vocals, Writer, MainArtist - Chris Bailey, Production
© 1994 Elektra Entertainment, a Division of Warner Communications Inc. for the United States and WEA International Inc. for the world outside of the United States. ℗ 1994 Elektra Entertainment, a division of Warner Communications Inc. for the United Sates and WEA International Inc. for the world outside of the United States.
Larry Fast, Editor - Kevin Salem, Guitar - Butch Vig, Producer, Mixer - Howie Weinberg, Masterer - Marc Ribot, Guitar - WARREN RIKER, AdditionalEngineer - JOHN SIKET, Recorder - Graham Maby, Bass Guitar - DOUG ERIKSON, Mixer - John Yates, AdditionalEngineer - Ron London, AdditionalEngineer - Freedy Johnston, Composer, Acoustic Guitar, Electric Guitar, Lead Vocals, Writer, MainArtist - Chris Bailey, Production - Frank Vilardi, Drums
© 1994 Elektra Entertainment, a Division of Warner Communications Inc. for the United States and WEA International Inc. for the world outside of the United States. ℗ 1994 Elektra Entertainment, a division of Warner Communications Inc. for the United Sates and WEA International Inc. for the world outside of the United States.
Larry Fast, Editor - Butch Vig, Producer, Mixer - Howie Weinberg, Masterer - WARREN RIKER, AdditionalEngineer - JOHN SIKET, Recorder - Graham Maby, Bass Guitar - Mark Spencer, Guitar - DOUG ERIKSON, Mixer - John Yates, AdditionalEngineer - Ron London, AdditionalEngineer - Freedy Johnston, Composer, Acoustic Guitar, Electric Guitar, Lead Vocals, Writer, MainArtist - Chris Bailey, Production - Frank Vilardi, Drums
© 1994 Elektra Entertainment, a Division of Warner Communications Inc. for the United States and WEA International Inc. for the world outside of the United States. ℗ 1994 Elektra Entertainment, a division of Warner Communications Inc. for the United Sates and WEA International Inc. for the world outside of the United States.
Larry Fast, Editor - Kevin Salem, Guitar - Butch Vig, Producer, Mixer - Howie Weinberg, Masterer - WARREN RIKER, AdditionalEngineer - JOHN SIKET, Recorder - Frank Vicari, Drums - Graham Maby, Bass Guitar - DOUG ERIKSON, Mixer - Dave Schramm, Guitar - John Yates, AdditionalEngineer - Ron London, AdditionalEngineer - Freedy Johnston, Composer, Acoustic Guitar, Electric Guitar, Lead Vocals, Writer, MainArtist - Chris Bailey, Production
© 1994 Elektra Entertainment, a Division of Warner Communications Inc. for the United States and WEA International Inc. for the world outside of the United States. ℗ 1994 Elektra Entertainment, a division of Warner Communications Inc. for the United Sates and WEA International Inc. for the world outside of the United States.
Jane Scarpantoni, Cello - Larry Fast, Editor - Butch Vig, Producer, Mixer - Howie Weinberg, Masterer - WARREN RIKER, AdditionalEngineer - JOHN SIKET, Recorder - Graham Maby, Bass Guitar - DOUG ERIKSON, Mixer - Dave Schramm, Guitar - John Yates, AdditionalEngineer - Ron London, AdditionalEngineer - Freedy Johnston, Composer, Acoustic Guitar, Electric Guitar, Lead Vocals, Writer, MainArtist - Chris Bailey, Production - Frank Vilardi, Drums
© 1994 Elektra Entertainment, a Division of Warner Communications Inc. for the United States and WEA International Inc. for the world outside of the United States. ℗ 1994 Elektra Entertainment, a division of Warner Communications Inc. for the United Sates and WEA International Inc. for the world outside of the United States.
Larry Fast, Editor - Kevin Salem, Guitar - Butch Vig, Producer, Mixer - Howie Weinberg, Masterer - WARREN RIKER, AdditionalEngineer - JOHN SIKET, Recorder - DOUG ERIKSON, Mixer - Dave Schramm, Baroque Guitar - John Yates, AdditionalEngineer - Ron London, AdditionalEngineer - Freedy Johnston, Composer, Acoustic Guitar, Electric Guitar, Lead Vocals, Writer, MainArtist - Chris Bailey, Production - Frank Vilardi, Drums
© 1994 Elektra Entertainment, a Division of Warner Communications Inc. for the United States and WEA International Inc. for the world outside of the United States. ℗ 1994 Elektra Entertainment, a division of Warner Communications Inc. for the United Sates and WEA International Inc. for the world outside of the United States.
Larry Fast, Editor - Butch Vig, Producer, Mixer, Drums, Percussion - Howie Weinberg, Masterer - WARREN RIKER, AdditionalEngineer - JOHN SIKET, Recorder - Graham Maby, Bass Guitar - Mark Spencer, Guitar - DOUG ERIKSON, Mixer - John Yates, AdditionalEngineer - Ron London, AdditionalEngineer - Freedy Johnston, Composer, Acoustic Guitar, Electric Guitar, Lead Vocals, Writer, MainArtist - Chris Bailey, Production
© 1994 Elektra Entertainment, a Division of Warner Communications Inc. for the United States and WEA International Inc. for the world outside of the United States. ℗ 1994 Elektra Entertainment, a division of Warner Communications Inc. for the United Sates and WEA International Inc. for the world outside of the United States.
Album review
Freedy Johnston's major-label debut is less consistently stunning than its predecessor, 1992's Can You Fly but, taken on its own terms, it affirms his position as one of the best songwriters of his generation. Certainly no one paints more evocative portraits of lonely, disappointed people. The majority of these 12 tracks are about men who either know or strongly suspect that they've done something unforgivable, and such is Johnston's mastery as a lyricist that it's even subtly apparent when his narrators are lying to themselves. Johnston frames his bleak narratives with melodic, chiming folk-rock; if anything, the predominantly mid-tempo songs and radio-ready Butch Vig production are a little too smooth, robbing This Perfect World of the edge that made Can You Fly so piercing. The most memorable tracks are the sparsest ones, where Johnston's words and appealingly plain voice take center stage. In addition to the melancholy opener, "Bad Reputation," other highlights include "Can't Shake This Town" and the witty "Dolores" -- few songwriters could pack so many Lolita allusions into three minutes of guitar pop without sounding too clever by half. Best of all is the mournful, eerie title track, which describes the possibly mortal sins of one man's past and the hopelessness of his future with the economy and punch of a good short story.
© Kristi Coulter /TiVo
About the album
- 1 disc(s) - 12 track(s)
- Total length: 00:40:06
- Main artists: Freedy Johnston
- Composer: Freedy Johnston
- Label: Elektra Records
- Genre: Pop/Rock Pop
© 1994 Elektra Entertainment, a Division of Warner Communications Inc. for the United States and WEA International Inc. for the world outside of the United States. ℗ 1994 Elektra Entertainment, a division of Warner Communications Inc. for the United Sates and WEA International Inc. for the world outside of the United States.
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