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{{Infobox album
{{Infobox Album | <!-- See Wikipedia:WikiProject_Albums -->
| Name = Civilians
| name = Civilians
| Type = studio
| type = studio
| Artist = [[Joe Henry]]
| artist = [[Joe Henry]]
| Cover =
| cover = JoeHenry-Civilians.jpg
| Released = [[September 11]], [[2007]]
| alt =
| Recorded = The Garfield House, [[Pasadena]]
| released = September 11, 2007
⚫
| recorded = The Garfield House, [[South Pasadena, California|South Pasadena]]
⚫
| Genre = [[Folk rock]]
| Length = 57:42
| venue =
| Label = [[ANTI-]]
| studio =
| Producer = [[Joe Henry]]
| genre = [[Folk rock]]
| length = 57:42
| Reviews = *[[Allmusic]] {{Rating|4.5|5}} [http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:gnfexzygldje~T1 link]
⚫
| label = [[ANTI-]]
⚫
*[[Billboard]] {{Rating|4|5}} [http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/content_display/reviews/albums/e3ibe8ec7c980d6765c1d1fa5c886268d97 link]
| producer = [[Joe Henry]]
*[[Pitchfork Media]] (5.9/10) [http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/article/record_review/45410-civilians link]
| Last album = ''[[Tiny Voices]]''<br />(2003)
| prev_title = [[Tiny Voices]]
| prev_year = 2003
| This album = '''''Civilians'''''<br />(2007)
| next_title = [[Blood from Stars]]
| Next album =
| next_year = 2009
|}}
}}


'''''Civilians''''' is the tenth studio album by [[Joe Henry]], released on [[September 11]], [[2007]]. It was his first album of new material since his 2003 album ''[[Tiny Voices]]''. Joe recorded the album at The Garfield House in [[Pasadena|South Pasadena, California]] between January 9-12 and February 22, 2007. The album also includes guest musicians [[Loudon Wainwright III]], [[Bill Frisell]], [[Greg Leisz]], and [[Van Dyke Parks]].
'''''Civilians''''' is the eleventh studio album by [[Joe Henry]], released on August 18, 2007. It was his first album of new material since his 2003 album ''[[Tiny Voices]]''. Henry recorded the album at The Garfield House in [[South Pasadena, California]] between January 9–12 and February 22, 2007. The album also includes guest musicians [[Loudon Wainwright III]], [[Bill Frisell]], [[Greg Leisz]], and [[Van Dyke Parks]].


⚫
The photograph on the album's cover is by [[John Cohen (musician)|John Cohen]] and shows visual artist [[Mary Frank]] (spouse of [[Robert Frank]]), circa 1960. The back cover's photograph features artist [[Red Grooms]] crossing [[Third Avenue (Manhattan-Bronx)|Third Avenue]] in 1960.
⚫
In an interview with ''Impose Magazine''<ref> [http://www.imposemagazine.com/joe-henry-civilians-anti/3143/ Impose Magazine interview] </ref>, Henry stated that he wanted the album to be less about the production, and geared more toward the feel of "a band playing in a room." This approach is evident from the more stripped-back and raw feel of the album compared to the polish and sophistication heard on his previous three albums. ''Civilians'' is less upbeat and more influenced toward jazz and folk, which have melancholy undertones.


== Concept ==
"God Only Knows," the final track on the album, was used in a "[[Turner Classic Movies|TCM]] Remembers 2008" TV spot, a video memoriam of actors who have passed away in 2008.<ref> [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OhFiMeMV4_M TCM Remembers 2008] </ref>
⚫
In an interview with ''Impose Magazine'',<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.imposemagazine.com/joe-henry-civilians-anti/3143/ |title=Impose Magazine interview |access-date=2009-01-30 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120905153354/http://www.imposemagazine.com/joe-henry-civilians-anti/3143/ |archive-date=2012-09-05 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Henry stated that he wanted the album to be less about the production, and geared more toward the feel of "a band playing in a room." This approach is evident from the more stripped-back and raw feel of the album compared to the polish and sophistication heard on his previous three albums. ''Civilians'' is less upbeat and more influenced toward jazz and folk, which have melancholy undertones.


== Reception ==
⚫
The photograph on the album's cover is of visual artist [[Mary Frank]], circa 1960. The back cover's photograph features artist [[Red Grooms]] crossing [[Third Avenue (Manhattan-Bronx)|Third Avenue]] in 1960.
{{Album ratings
|rev1 = [[AllMusic]]
|rev1score = {{Rating|4.5|5}}<ref>[{{AllMusic|class=album|id=r1187233/review|pure_url=yes}} Allmusic review]</ref>
|rev2 = ''[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]''
⚫
|rev2score = {{Rating|4|5}}<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20071011104652/http://billboard.com/bbcom/content_display/reviews/albums/e3ibe8ec7c980d6765c1d1fa5c886268d97 Billboard review]</ref>
|rev3 = ''[[Pitchfork Media]]''
|rev3score = 5.9/10<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/article/record_review/45410-civilians |title=Pitchfork Media review |access-date=2009-01-30 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080310233242/http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/article/record_review/45410-civilians |archive-date=2008-03-10 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
}}
⚫
The album received generally strong praise across the board, achieving an average score of 77 on [[Metacritic]].<ref>[http://www.metacritic.com/music/artists/henryjoe/civilians?q=Joe%20Henry Civilians on Metacritic]</ref> Thom Jurek of [[AllMusic]] praised the album for its straightforward sound, and that ''Civilians'' is "the evidence of what pop music can and should be, profound without being self conscious, elegant while wearing its seams in plain view, and full of speech both lyrically and musically that invites the listener in for a real conversation."<ref>[{{AllMusic|class=album|id=r1187233/review|pure_url=yes}} AllMusic review]</ref> Dan Ouellette of ''[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]'' was impressed with the anecdotal qualities of the album, especially on the track "Our Song".<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20071011104652/http://billboard.com/bbcom/content_display/reviews/albums/e3ibe8ec7c980d6765c1d1fa5c886268d97 Billboard review]</ref> Meanwhile, Joshua Klein of ''[[Pitchfork Media]]'' criticized the album for its sound, describing the tempo as "dour", and expressed some dissatisfaction for the album's social commentary on American life.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/article/record_review/45410-civilians |title=Pitchfork Media review |access-date=2009-01-30 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080310233242/http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/article/record_review/45410-civilians |archive-date=2008-03-10 |url-status=dead }}</ref>


==Reception==
== Track listing ==
⚫
The album received generally strong praise across the board, achieving an average score of 77 on [[Metacritic]].<ref> [http://www.metacritic.com/music/artists/henryjoe/civilians?q=Joe%20Henry Civilians on Metacritic] </ref> Thom Jurek of [[Allmusic]] praised the album for its straightforward sound, and that ''Civilians'' is "the evidence of what pop music can and should be, profound without being self conscious, elegant while wearing its seams in plain view, and full of speech both lyrically and musically that invites the listener in for a real conversation."<ref> [http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:gnfexzygldje~T1 Allmusic review] </ref> Dan Ouellette of ''[[Billboard]]'' was impressed with the anecdotal qualities of the album, especially on the track "Our Song."<ref> [http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/content_display/reviews/albums/e3ibe8ec7c980d6765c1d1fa5c886268d97 Billboard review] </ref> Meanwhile, Joshua Klein of [[Pitchfork Media]] criticized the album for its sound, describing the tempo as "dour," and expressed some dissatisfaction for the album's social commentary on American life.<ref> [http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/article/record_review/45410-civilians Pitchfork Media review] </ref>

==Track listing==
All songs written by Joe Henry, except where noted.
All songs written by Joe Henry, except where noted.


Line 36: Line 44:
# "Civil War" – 4:42
# "Civil War" – 4:42
# "Time Is a Lion" – 3:55
# "Time Is a Lion" – 3:55
# "You Can't Fail Me Now" (Henry, [[Loudon Wainwright III|Wainwright]]) – 4:13
# "You Can't Fail Me Now" (Henry, [[Loudon Wainwright III]]) – 4:13
# "Scare Me to Death" – 4:54
# "Scare Me to Death" – 4:54
# "Our Song" – 6:20
# "Our Song" – 6:20
Line 45: Line 53:
# "God Only Knows" – 5:03
# "God Only Knows" – 5:03


==Credits==
== Personnel ==
⚫
* Joe Henry – vocals, acoustic guitar, handclaps, knee slaps, and corduroy
* Produced by Joe Henry
* [[Bill Frisell]] – electric and acoustic guitar
⚫
* Recorded by Ryan Freeland at The Garfield House, South Pasadena, CA
* [[Greg Leisz]] – acoustic guitar, lap steel guitar, [[Weissenborn]] slide guitar, mandolin
* Mixed by Ryan Freeland at The Garfield House
⚫
* Patrick Warren – piano, Chamberlin, pump organ
* Mastered by Gavin Lurssen at Lurssen Mastering, Hollywood, CA
⚫
* [[David Piltch]] – double bass, bass guitar
* Musicians:
⚫
* [[Jay Bellerose]] – drums and percussion
⚫
** Joe Henry – vocals, acoustic guitar, handclaps, knee slaps, and corduroy
** [[Bill Frisell]] – electric and acoustic guitar
* [[Loudon Wainwright III]] – backing vocals
** [[Greg Leisz]] – acoustic guitar, mandolin, Weissenborn, and lap steel
* [[Van Dyke Parks]] – piano on "Civil War" and "I Will Write My Book"
⚫
* Chris Hickey – additional backing vocals on "Civilians" and "Time Is a Lion"
⚫
** Patrick Warren – piano, Chamberlin, pump organ, and more
⚫
* [[The Section Quartet]] on "Our Song": [[Eric Gorfain]] – first violin; Daphne Chen – second violin; Leah Katz – viola; [[Richard Dodd]] – cello
⚫
** David Piltch – upright and electric bass

⚫
** Jay Bellarose – drums and percussion
'''Production'''
** [[Loudon Wainwright III]] – backing vocals
* Joe Henry – producer
* Special guests:
* Ryan Freeland – recording, mixing
** [[Van Dyke Parks]] – piano on "Civil War" and "I Will Write My Book"
* Gavin Lurssen – mastering
⚫
** Chris Hickey – additional backing vocals on "Civilians" and "Time Is a Lion"
⚫
** The Section Quartet on "Our Song": Eric Gorfain – first violin; Daphne Chen – second violin; Leah Katz – viola; Richard Dodd – cello
* Strings arranged and conducted by Patrick Warren
* Photographs by John Cohen, from the collection ''There Is No Eye'' (2001)
* Additional photography by Michael Wilson
* Design by Anabel Sinn


==References==
== References ==
{{reflist}}
{{Reflist}}
{{Joe Henry}}
{{Authority control}}


[[Category:Joe Henry albums]]
[[Category:Joe Henry albums]]
[[Category:2007 albums]]
[[Category:2007 albums]]
[[Category:Albums produced by Joe Henry]]
[[Category:Anti- (record label) albums]]

Latest revision as of 22:18, 26 July 2024

Civilians
Studio album by
Joe Henry
ReleasedSeptember 11, 2007
RecordedThe Garfield House, South Pasadena
GenreFolk rock
Length57:42
LabelANTI-
ProducerJoe Henry
Joe Henry chronology
Tiny Voices
(2003) 		Civilians
(2007) 		Blood from Stars
(2009)

Civilians is the eleventh studio album by Joe Henry, released on August 18, 2007. It was his first album of new material since his 2003 album Tiny Voices. Henry recorded the album at The Garfield House in South Pasadena, California between January 9–12 and February 22, 2007. The album also includes guest musicians Loudon Wainwright III, Bill Frisell, Greg Leisz, and Van Dyke Parks.

The photograph on the album's cover is by John Cohen and shows visual artist Mary Frank (spouse of Robert Frank), circa 1960. The back cover's photograph features artist Red Grooms crossing Third Avenue in 1960.

Concept

[edit]

In an interview with Impose Magazine,[1] Henry stated that he wanted the album to be less about the production, and geared more toward the feel of "a band playing in a room." This approach is evident from the more stripped-back and raw feel of the album compared to the polish and sophistication heard on his previous three albums. Civilians is less upbeat and more influenced toward jazz and folk, which have melancholy undertones.

Reception

[edit]
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[2]
Billboard[3]
Pitchfork Media5.9/10[4]

The album received generally strong praise across the board, achieving an average score of 77 on Metacritic.[5] Thom Jurek of AllMusic praised the album for its straightforward sound, and that Civilians is "the evidence of what pop music can and should be, profound without being self conscious, elegant while wearing its seams in plain view, and full of speech both lyrically and musically that invites the listener in for a real conversation."[6] Dan Ouellette of Billboard was impressed with the anecdotal qualities of the album, especially on the track "Our Song".[7] Meanwhile, Joshua Klein of Pitchfork Media criticized the album for its sound, describing the tempo as "dour", and expressed some dissatisfaction for the album's social commentary on American life.[8]

Track listing

[edit]

All songs written by Joe Henry, except where noted.

  1. "Civilians" – 4:36
  2. "Parker's Mood" – 4:16
  3. "Civil War" – 4:42
  4. "Time Is a Lion" – 3:55
  5. "You Can't Fail Me Now" (Henry, Loudon Wainwright III) – 4:13
  6. "Scare Me to Death" – 4:54
  7. "Our Song" – 6:20
  8. "Wave" – 4:30
  9. "Love Is Enough" – 4:49
  10. "I Will Write My Book" – 4:12
  11. "Shut Me Up" – 6:16
  12. "God Only Knows" – 5:03

Personnel

[edit]

Production

  • Joe Henry – producer
  • Ryan Freeland – recording, mixing
  • Gavin Lurssen – mastering

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Impose Magazine interview". Archived from the original on 2012-09-05. Retrieved 2009-01-30.
  2. ^ Allmusic review
  3. ^ Billboard review
  4. ^ "Pitchfork Media review". Archived from the original on 2008-03-10. Retrieved 2009-01-30.
  5. ^ Civilians on Metacritic
  6. ^ AllMusic review
  7. ^ Billboard review
  8. ^ "Pitchfork Media review". Archived from the original on 2008-03-10. Retrieved 2009-01-30.
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