Freedy Johnston This Perfect World CD

THIS PERFECT WORLD is not only Johnston's finest moment, but one of the best albums of its kind. When it comes to roots-tinged, alt-rock-identified singer-songwriter releases, THIS PERFECT WORLD is the motherlode. Marrying a perfectly realized power-pop sensibility to skilled, literary writing chops, Johnston turns out cut after cut of melodically infectious, intellectually involving, emotionally affecting pop-rock.

He zeroes in on the details of a situation without revealing much of the plot, so the listener is left to connect the dots but nevertheless moved by the emotional resonance of Johnston's Raymond Carver-like wordcraft. The title tune is a perfect example; the narrator may be a wife-murderer returning to visit his daughter, or a haunted widower calling on an old friend. Either way, the track shines with melodic grace and dramatic power. The icing on the cake is that even if one ignores the words, THIS PERFECT WORLD is still a classic folk-rock/power-pop offering bursting at the seams with flawless, shimmering hooks.

Recorded at Dreamland, West Hurley, New York and House Of Music, West Orange, New Jersey from December 1993 to February 1994.

Personnel: Freedy Johnston (vocals, acoustic guitar, electric guitar); Dave Schramm (guitar, steel guitar, lap steel guitar); Kevin Salem, Marc Ribot, Mark Spencer (guitar); Marshall Crenshaw (12-string guitar); Jane Scarpantoni (cello); Doug Erikson (piano); Butch Vig (drums, percussion); Frank Vilardi (drums); Mary Gaines (background vocals).

Recording information: Dreamland Recording Studios, West Hurley, NY; House Of Music Inc., West Orange, NJ.

Personnel: Freedy Johnston (vocals, acoustic & electric guitars); Dave Schramm (guitar, lap steel guitar, 6-string bass); Kevin Salem, Marc Ribot, Mark Spencer (guitar); Marshall Crenshaw (12-string guitar); Jane Scarpantoni (cello); Doug Erikson (piano); John Yates, Graham Maby (bass); Frank Vilardi (drums); Butch Vig (drums, percussion); Mary Gaines (background vocals).

Rolling Stone (7/14/94, pp.102-105) - 4 Stars - Excellent - "...Nobody sounds like Freedy Johnston. He's an American original...for the most part, Johnston seems incapable of writing a tune that doesn't stick..."
Spin (8/94, p.83) - Highly Recommended - "...THIS PERFECT WORLD rocks in spite of its trappings, pouring diminished, subversive fervor into formulas that feel as exhausted as the song's characters..."
Musician (8/94, p.86) - "...In its lyrical sophistication and melodic invention, THIS PERFECT WORLD is nearly perfect...the temptation to plumb the depths with Johnston's characters is almost irresistible..."
Village Voice (2/28/95) - Ranked #13 in the Village Voice's 1994 Pazz & Jop Critics Poll.
Mojo (Publisher) (1/95, p.51) - Included in Mojo's "25 Best Albums of 1994" - "...repeated plays drive the Beatlish tunes permanently into your brain and you're totally at the mercy of its gentle charm."