No Frills Friend is Amy Allison's third solo album. It was released on July 1, 2003 on Diesel Only Records. It was recorded in Scotland and produced by David Scott of the Pearlfishers.

No Frills Friend
Studio album by
ReleasedJuly 1, 2003 (2003-07-01)
RecordedScotland
GenreAlternative country
Length38:51
LabelDiesel Only
ProducerDavid Scott
Amy Allison chronology
Sad Girl
(2001)
No Frills Friend
(2003)
Everything and Nothing Too
(2006)

Critical reception edit

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic     [1]
CMJ(favorable)[2]
Drowned in Sound(8/10)[3]
No Depression(favorable)[4]
Robert Christgau(A-)[5]
Chicago Tribune(favorable)[6]

No Frills Friend was described by Mark Keresman of SF Weekly as "a gem of despondent, shimmering pop/folk/rock balladry". Keresman also wrote that it "retains her distinctively mournful, somewhat nasal warble and her gift for simple yet sturdy melodies" found on her previous albums.[7] Neil Jones of Drowned in Sound described No Frills Friend as "a vocally driven record dripping with melodic richness."[3]

Track listing edit

  1. What's the Deal?
  2. No Frills Friend
  3. Baby, You're the One
  4. Hell to Pay
  5. Pretty Things to Buy
  6. Don't String Me Along
  7. Say It Isn't So
  8. Dreaming's Killing Me
  9. Thank God for the Wine
  10. Beautiful Night
  11. Completely Yours
  12. Hanging on a Moment
  13. Moonlight on the Mountains

Personnel edit

  • Amy Allison—Composer, Guitar (Acoustic), Primary Artist, Vocals
  • Irving Berlin—Composer
  • Gina R. Binkley—Design
  • Avy Carroli—Sleigh Bells
  • Jim Gash—Drums, Percussion
  • Paul McGeechan—Mastering
  • Bonnie Raitt—Composer
  • David Scott—Bass, Engineer, Guitar, Keyboards, Primary Artist, Producer, Vocals
  • Derek Star—Percussion

References edit

  1. ^ Hage, Erik. "No Frills Friend Review". Allmusic. Retrieved 17 July 2014.
  2. ^ Farinella, David John (September 2003). "Amy Allison No Frills Friend". CMJ New Music Monthly. Retrieved 17 July 2014.
  3. ^ a b Jones, Neil (18 December 2003). "No Frills Friend". Drowned in Sound. Archived from the original on 14 July 2014. Retrieved 17 July 2014.
  4. ^ Hage, Erik (September–October 2003). "Amy Allison: No Frills Friend". No Depression. Retrieved 17 July 2014.
  5. ^ CG: Amy Allison
  6. ^ Cristiano, Nick (8 September 2003). "Amy Allison No Frills Friend". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 17 July 2014.
  7. ^ Keresman, Mark (30 July 2003). "Amy Allison: No Frills Friend". SF Weekly. Retrieved 6 August 2014.