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So he enlisted my help in finding musicians. So many of my generation of underground musicians just absolutely worshipped Fred Schneider. Everybody just leapt at the opportunity. There was a long list of prospective names for the backing band, and Deadly Cupcake was not unanimous, but the near-unanimous choice. And that was Russell Simins from the Blues Explosion, Rick Didjit from the Didjits, and Tom Zaluckyj from the band Tar. Everybody that I approached about doing it immediately said yes, and then they also really fucking delivered. They really committed to the project. I thought it was great. I really enjoyed it.
—Engineer Steve Albini in 2024 on recording "Just Fred"
Just Fred is the second solo album by the American musician Fred Schneider, released in 1996. Its first single was "Bulldozer". Schneider promoted the album by playing shows with his band, the Slobs.
Production.
Produced by Steve Albini, the album was recorded in two weeks. Schneider was backed by Shadowy Men on a Shadowy Planet, Deadly Cupcake, and Six Finger Satellite. Consisting of members of the Jon Spencer Blues Explosion, the Didjits, and Tar, Deadly Cupcake was formed by Albini. Most of Schneider's vocals are in the same style that he uses with the B-52's, although electronic effects are added to "Secret Sharer", and "Helicopter" utilizes a conversational voice."
"Coconut" is a cover of the Harry Nilsson song; it first appeared on a Nilsson tribute album.
Critical reception.
The "Knoxville News Sentinel" stated: "Schneider still uses his distinctive style—an emphatic shout/sing delivery with an ironic tone—but now it's accompanied by heavy angst as he sings about endangered freedon ('Helicopter'), betrayal ('Lick', 'Secret Sharer') and destruction ('Bulldozer')." "Rolling Stone" concluded that "Albini manages to make all these guitars sound authentic and contemporary, but "Just Fred" is as much a nod to the late-70s underground scene that spawned the B-52's, when the punk rock of the Ramones seemed just fine alongside the quirky pop of bands like Blondie and Talking Heads." "The Huntsville Times" declared that "Just Fred" "borders on inanity at times, but it's just as enjoyable as 'Love Shack' or 'Roam', and no one could argue that those tracks contributed to the salvation of mankind."
The "Telegram &amp; Gazette" deemed the album "a bomb" and "an annoying drag of a record." "The New York Times" concluded that "with punk in the middle of a revival that takes itself seriously, Mr. Schneider has latched on to the pop flippancy amid punk's burly guitars ... Schneider treats punk rock as another kitschy source." "The Atlanta Journal-Constitution" determined that "a few tracks illuminate surprising similarities between Schneider's arch yelp and Johnny Rotten's—'Secret Sharer' could be a "Never Mind the Bollocks" outtake."
AllMusic called the album "a surprisingly enjoyable fusion of Schneider's bizarre charm and lean, loud alternative rock that proudly illustrates his punk roots."
Track listing.
All lyrics by Fred Schneider, music written as noted, except "Coconut" which is written by Harry Nilsson
† = performed by Shadowy Men on a Shadowy Planet ;br ;
†† = performed by Six Finger Satellite ;br ;
All others performed by Deadly Cupcake
References.
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