Illiterature
| Illiterature | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| 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 | ||||
| ||||
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
[edit]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
[edit]Initial recordings were done at Pachyderm Studios in Cannon Falls, Minnesota in May of 1992. Further recording was conducted at Schmitt's home studio throughout October 1992 to January 1993.[5]
Critical reception
[edit]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
[edit]All tracks are written by Adam Schmitt
| 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
[edit]- 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
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ a b Mason, Stewart. "Illiterature Review". AllMusic. Retrieved October 21, 2024.
- ^ Huisseune, Rick (September 18, 2010). "Interview – Adam Schmitt". Melodic. Retrieved October 21, 2024.
- ^ a b Wheeler, Drew (September 4, 1993). "High Illiterature". Billboard. p. 17.
- ^ Hermon, Terry (1998). "Adam Schmitt Interview". Bucketfull of Brains. No. 52. p. 13.
- ^ Illiterature (Media notes). Reprise Records. 1993.
- ^ Borack, John. "Adam Schmitt". Trouser Press. Retrieved October 21, 2024.
- ^ Puterbaugh, Parke (February 1994). "Popular Music Reviews: Illiterature". Stereo Review.
- ^ "The A.V. Club's favorite guitar solos". The A.V. Club. November 22, 2013. Retrieved October 21, 2024.
- ^ "The Album Network - Best New Music" (PDF). World Radio History. August 27, 1993. Retrieved February 11, 2025.