Shooting Rubberbands at the Stars

Shooting Rubberbands at the Stars is the debut studio album by American alternative rock band Edie Brickell & New Bohemians, released on August 9, 1988, by Geffen Records. The album went 2× platinum in the United States.

Shooting Rubberbands at the Stars
Studio album by
ReleasedAugust 9, 1988
StudioRockfield Studios (Rockfield, Wales)
GenreAlternative rock, jangle pop, folk rock
Length48:22
LabelGeffen
ProducerPat Moran
Edie Brickell & New Bohemians chronology
Shooting Rubberbands at the Stars
(1988)
Ghost of a Dog
(1990)

"What I Am" was the lead single and big hit from the album, reaching #7 on the Billboard Hot 100.[1] The follow-up single, "Circle", was about strained relationships.[2] Although described by author Brent Mann as "the perfect follow up single to 'What I Am'" and which "had 'smash' written all over it", it stalled at #48 on the Billboard Hot 100 and fared slightly better on the Billboard Mainstream Rock chart, reaching #32.[1][3] Cash Box said of "Circle" that "The key to this gentle song is Brickell’s breathy intensity. Supported by an acoustic-slanted track, she manages to sell the unusually dark lyric shadings."[4] Another song from the album, "Little Miss S." was inspired by Edie Sedgwick and reached #38 on the Mainstream Rock chart and #14 on the Modern Rock Tracks chart.[1][2]

Reception

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Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic     [2]
Rolling Stone     [5]
The Village VoiceB−[6]

"Shooting Rubberbands at the Stars is almost impossible to be cynical about (I tried)," remarked Time Out, "and the band are so likeable it's almost unreal."[7]

Track listing

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Shooting Rubberbands at the Stars track listing
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."What I Am"Edie Brickell, Kenny Withrow4:54
2."Little Miss S."Brickell, Withrow, Brad Houser, Brandon Aly, John Bush3:37
3."Air of December"Brickell, Withrow, Houser, Aly, Bush5:54
4."The Wheel"Brickell, Withrow, Houser, Aly, Bush3:53
5."Love Like We Do"Brickell3:13
6."Circle"Brickell, Withrow3:11
7."Beat the Time"Brickell, Withrow2:58
8."She"Brickell, Withrow5:06
9."Nothing"Brickell, Withrow, Houser, Aly, Bush4:49
10."Now"Brickell, Withrow, Houser, Aly, Bush6:00
11."Keep Coming Back"Brickell2:42
12."I Do" (Hidden track)Brickell2:00

Personnel

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The New Bohemians

with

Both Chris Whitten and Paul "Wix" Wickens were/are members of Paul McCartney's band; Whitten from 1989 to 1990 and Wickens from 1989–present.

Production

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  • Pat Moran – producer, engineer
  • George Marino – mastering at Sterling Sound (New York City, New York)
  • Barry Diament – CD mastering at Barry Diament Mastering (New York City, New York)
  • Gabrielle Raumberger – art coordinator
  • Terry Robertson – CD design
  • Edie Brickell – cover illustration
  • Mark Abrahams – solo photography
  • Bob Cook – band photography
  • Tracks 6 & 8 published by Geffen Music-Withrow Publishing-Edie Brickell Songs.[8]
  • Tracks 11 & 12 published by Geffen Music-Edie Brickell Songs.
  • All other tracks published by Geffen Music-Strangemind Productions-Enlightened Kitty-Withrow Publishing-Edie Brickell Songs.

Charts

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References

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  1. ^ a b c "Shooting Rubberbands awards". AllMusic. Retrieved 2014-04-29.
  2. ^ a b c McCartney, Kelly. "Shooting Rubberbands at the Stars – Edie Brickell & New Bohemians". AllMusic. Retrieved April 29, 2014.
  3. ^ Mann, B. (2003). 99 Red Balloons And 100 Other All-Time Great One-Hit Wonders. Citadel. p. 33. ISBN 9780806525167.
  4. ^ "Top of the Pops" (PDF). Cash Box. March 18, 1989. p. 20. Retrieved 2022-12-21.
  5. ^ Azerrad, Michael (December 1, 1988). "Edie Brickell & New Bohemians: Shooting Rubberbands at the Stars". Rolling Stone. New York. Retrieved June 22, 2024.
  6. ^ Christgau, Robert (December 27, 1988). "Christgau's Consumer Guide". The Village Voice. New York. Retrieved April 13, 2013.
  7. ^ Time Out, June 21–28, 1989
  8. ^ Publishing Information as found at discogs
  9. ^ "australian-charts.com Edie Brickell and New Bohemians - Shooting Rubberbands at the Stars" (ASP). Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved 2011-10-23.
  10. ^ "Edie Brickell and New Bohemians - Shooting Rubberbands at the Stars – austriancharts.at" (ASP) (in German). Retrieved 2011-09-18.
  11. ^ "dutchcharts.nl Edie Brickell and New Bohemians - Shooting Rubberbands at the Stars" (ASP). dutchcharts.nl (in Dutch). MegaCharts. Retrieved 2011-10-23.
  12. ^ "Album Search: Edie Brickell and New Bohemians - Shooting Rubberbands at the Stars" (ASP) (in German). Media Control. Retrieved 2011-10-23.[dead link]
  13. ^ a b "Hit Parade Italia - Gli album più venduti del 1989" (in Italian). hitparadeitalia.it. Retrieved 2011-10-23.
  14. ^ "charts.nz - Edie Brickell and New Bohemians - Shooting Rubberbands at the Stars" (ASP). Recording Industry Association of New Zealand. Retrieved 2011-10-23.
  15. ^ "The Official Charts Company - Edie Brickell and New Bohemians - Shooting Rubberbands at the Stars" (PHP). Official Charts Company. Retrieved 2011-10-23.
  16. ^ Allmusic - Shooting Rubberbands at the Stars > Charts & Awards > Billboard Albums
  17. ^ "The ARIA Australian Top 100 Albums Chart – 1989 (61–100) (from The ARIA Report Issue No. 1)". Imgur.com (original document published by ARIA). Retrieved 2017-04-29.
  18. ^ "RPM Top 100 Albums of 1989". RPM. Archived from the original on 2013-12-31. Retrieved 2011-10-03.
  19. ^ "Billboard.BIZ". billboard.biz. Retrieved 2011-10-24.[permanent dead link]
  20. ^ "American album certifications – Edie Brickell – Shooting Rubberbands at the Stars". Recording Industry Association of America.