Trouble Is Real

Amazon.com
Born in Virginia, raised in Scotland and having put in time in both Brooklyn and Los Angeles, Jonathan Rice has an accent that's impossible place and a dusky, windswept voice that makes it hard to believe he's barely hit legal drinking age. Even though the songs on his major label debut - recorded in Lincoln, Nebraska with members of Rilo Kiley, the Faint, and singer-songwriter Amy Correia - have become synonymous with teen dramas like The OC and Smallville, Rice's loyalty is to another generation. He channels vintage Van Morrison on the romantic "Break So Easy", a scratchy Bob Dylan in "Lady Memphis," and the Clash with the searing, fuzzy "Salvation Day." --Aidin Vaziri

Product Description
Scottish-born, New York City-based singer-songwriter-guitarist Johnathan Rice makes emotionally charged, literate modern music. Produced by Mike Mogis, Trouble Is Real spans the sonic landscape from folk ballads to psychedelic pop to full-on, punk-influenced rock. Johnathan Rice is real, too-the real deal.

Trouble Is Real,Johnathan Rice,Reprise / Wea,Adult Alternative Pop/Rock,Alternative Pop/Rock,Pop,Rock,Rock/Pop,Singer/Songwriter

Trouble Is Real

Average customer rating:

Who?
Kiss Me Hello
Is it just me...
Lovely, with a few flaws.
finally

Trouble Is Real
Johnathan Rice
Manufacturer: Reprise / Wea
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

Singer-Songwriters | Pop | Styles | Music

Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music

Adult Alternative | Pop | Styles | Music

General | Rock | Styles | Music
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ASIN: B0007XT8BM
Release Date: 2005-04-26

Tracks:

Short Songs For Strings
Mid November
Kiss Me Goodbye
So Sweet
Break So Easy
Lady Memphis
Behind the Frontlines
My Mother's Son
Leave the Light On
City On Fire
Put Me In Your Holy War
Salvation Day
Stay At Home
Acrobat
Hickory Wind (Outro)
I Wouldn't Miss It For the World

Amazon.com

Born in Virginia, raised in Scotland and having put in time in both Brooklyn and Los Angeles, Jonathan Rice has an accent that's impossible place and a dusky, windswept voice that makes it hard to believe he's barely hit legal drinking age. Even though the songs on his major label debut - recorded in Lincoln, Nebraska with members of Rilo Kiley, the Faint, and singer-songwriter Amy Correia - have become synonymous with teen dramas like The OC and Smallville, Rice's loyalty is to another generation. He channels vintage Van Morrison on the romantic "Break So Easy", a scratchy Bob Dylan in "Lady Memphis," and the Clash with the searing, fuzzy "Salvation Day." --Aidin Vaziri

Album Description

Scottish-born, New York City-based singer-songwriter-guitarist Johnathan Rice makes emotionally charged, literate modern music. Produced by Mike Mogis, Trouble Is Real spans the sonic landscape from folk ballads to psychedelic pop to full-on, punk-influenced rock. Johnathan Rice is real, too-the real deal.

Customer Reviews:

Who?.......2007-01-28

I found Jonathan Rice quite accidentally in the college radio station...and I like having my own little secret. He is now one of my favorite artists. He receives sero publicity as far as I can tell, but songs like "Acrobat," and "Lady Memphis" sound like Indie sleeper hits to me. Once he breaks on the music scene, he'll fly off the shelves.

Kiss Me Hello.......2005-10-17

Johnathan Rice's first full-length set is a great CD with melody, exquisite musicianship and thoughtful lyrics. "Kiss Me Goodbye" is my favorite with its insistent pop melody and Rice's hushed vocals like an energized Nick Drake, "I heard you call my name from the top of the stairs, It'll never be the same, You know it's so hard to let you go." "So Sweet" is another standout with Rice's passionate vocals and the addictive chorus, "You're so sweet it makes me cry." "Salvation Day" boasts thundering guitars and Rice's airy vocals that float above the storm. "Break So Easy" is a soft acoustic folk tune that offers hushed Nick Drake-style vocals that also can recall Elliott Smith or David Gray at times. "Leave the Light On" is another strong track, "Fell out of love with rock & roll, left a hole in your radio." Rice who graduated from high school in 2001 and was raised in Glasgow, Scotland turns in an excellent effort on this Reprise CD. Enjoy!

Is it just me..........2005-08-20

First off, I don't understand why Johnathan Rice isn't receiving more attention and praise, he's amazing!
Yet, I can't help but hear an overbearing John Mayer quality in his voice. If John Mayer weren't as produced and afraid of taking chances (by the way, I'm a huge fan of his, so this is not meant to down play him at all), he would be Johnathan Rice, if not lyrically, vocally.
Lyrically, Johnathan is very mature and thought provoking.
I hope his career goes far because he has the talent to go as far as he wants.

Lovely, with a few flaws. .......2005-06-18

The first thing that is obvious about Johnathan Rice is that he has a lovely and distinctive voice. It is incredibly deep and rich without suffering from the crackling or shrillness that plague other distinctive voices. He's like if Bob Dylan had a smoother voice.

There are a lot of beautiful songs on this album, "Mid November" (also the Short Songs For Strings which blends with it), "The Acrobat," "City on Fire," and "Break So Easy" are my personal favorites, both being folk ballads that are wonderfully uplifting, well written and melodic. They both show his great potential, but some of the other tracks a much less spectacular. "Kiss Me Goodbye," "So Sweet," "Leave the Light On," and "Salvation Day" are pleasing upbeat rock tunes that bear a certain amount of originality and make up the group of songs I'd rank as my second favorite. "Lady Memphis" is a foray into country/blues that suffers from trying to be a little too gritty and "real", which is a problem that "I Wouldn't Miss it for the World" and "Behind the Frontlines" suffer from as well. However, in terms of esoteric and truly gritty styling, I love "Put me in Your Holy War," an all too short Americana style song. "My Mother's Son" would be a nice folk ballad, if it didn't have an overbearing orchestral background. "Stay at Home" was another track with an overbearing background, this one being in the cirsusy vein with odd trumpets and a children's chorus.

Rice has some really good songs here, but others could use some tweaking. I certainly have enjoyed listening to it, as the best songs here certainly are really very good.

finally.......2005-05-01

The long awaited album is finally here, and it doesnt let down. there is a great mix of music here, slow/fast, loud/quiet, folk/rock/pop. but it all comes together really well. if you've heard the ep the sames songs can be found here. pick this album up!