Adam Schmitt's debut, 1991's World So Bright, was a sunny piece of D.I.Y. power pop, as catchy and solidly written as anything by his Champaign-Urbana compatriots Ric Menck and Paul Chastain. Unfortunately, a record that could have been a decent seller on an indie was a stiff on a major label, although it received good reviews. It seems likely that Schmitt then fell into the same post-Nevermind trap that the Posies hit with 1992's Frosting on the Beater: Illiterature is a louder, noisier record than World So Bright, which ...
Read More
Adam Schmitt's debut, 1991's World So Bright, was a sunny piece of D.I.Y. power pop, as catchy and solidly written as anything by his Champaign-Urbana compatriots Ric Menck and Paul Chastain. Unfortunately, a record that could have been a decent seller on an indie was a stiff on a major label, although it received good reviews. It seems likely that Schmitt then fell into the same post-Nevermind trap that the Posies hit with 1992's Frosting on the Beater: Illiterature is a louder, noisier record than World So Bright, which is not in itself a bad thing, but the grunge-style guitars obscure the songs' inherent charms, and the pointless elongation of several tracks -- three songs that would be perfectly fine at three minutes drone on for six or seven -- sounds like Schmitt was trying to pad the album to a reasonable length. Despite those flaws and the generally depressive tone of the lyrics, Schmitt slips in a few gems, like the opening rocker, "Just Listen," and the Big Star-like bitterness of "Thanks for Showing." Following this album's commercial failure, Reprise dropped Schmitt; although he signed with his local indie, Parasol, soon after, his next release didn't come out until 2001. ~ Stewart Mason, Rovi
Read Less
Add this copy of Illiterature to cart. $14.82, good condition, Sold by Prime Goods Outlet rated 4.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Troy, OH, UNITED STATES, published 1993 by Warner Bros..
Add this copy of Illiterature to cart. $27.99, Sold by MUSICAL ENERGI rated 3.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Wilkes-Barre, PA, UNITED STATES, published by Reprise 45265 / 1993.
Edition:
Reprise 45265 / 1993
CD
Details:
Label:
Reprise 45265 / 1993
Alibris ID:
17532663973
Shipping Options:
Standard Shipping: $3.38
Choose your shipping method in Checkout. Costs may vary based on destination.
