Living Room Scene is an album by the American band Dillon Fence, released in 1994.[2][3] It was the band's final studio album; half the band left shortly after its release, forcing singer Greg Humphreys and drummer Scott Carle to support it with two new touring musicians.[4][5] The title track, about living in a college town, was the first single.[6][7]

Living Room Scene
Studio album by
Released1994
StudioArdent
GenreRock
LabelMammoth/Atlantic[1]
ProducerMark Freegard
Dillon Fence chronology
Outside In
(1993)
Living Room Scene
(1994)
Live at the Cat's Cradle
(2001)

Production

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The bulk of the album was recorded over six weeks at Ardent Studios, in Memphis, Tennessee.[6][8] It was produced by Mark Freegard.[9] "Fayetteville", the closing instrumental track, was written by Humphreys and performed by his grandmother on her Young Chang piano.[10][11] "High School Sap" is an instrumental.[12]

Critical reception

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Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic     [13]
The Charlotte Observer    [8]
The Tampa Tribune    [14]

Trouser Press wrote that "Humphreys exercises a raspy Rod Stewart voice (which he intimated on Outside In) and a fat ’70s Gibson SG tone on the title track, then downplays both in the cushy electric soul folds of 'Laughs' and the squalling harmony pop of 'Queen of the In-Between'."[15] The Washington Post opined that "the band's most memorable songs tend to be its most derivative ones: 'Coffee Cup' begins with singer Greg Humphreys emulating Rod Stewart, while 'Unnoticed' bears more than a passing resemblance to the Church."[16]

The State called the album "superb," writing that Dillon Fence's music "is catchy, edgy and often Beatlesque."[17] The Record praised the "spontaneity and looseness" of the music, stating that on "Laughs" "Humphreys' vocals and layered background harmonies float amid turbulent rhythm guitars."[18] The Richmond Times-Dispatch stated: "Three-part harmonies, husky to screechy lead vocals, jangling or dense guitar tracks and propulsive drumming make for a fine pop and rock listen."[19]

AllMusic wrote that the album "combines some absolutely stellar '90s power-pop with tasty, '70s, stud-rock guitars and a big dollop of blue-eyed soul."[13]

Track listing

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No.TitleLength
1."Living Room Scene" 
2."Laughs" 
3."Queen of the In-Between" 
4."The Right Road" 
5."Unnoticed" 
6."High School Sap" 
7."Day After Tomorrow" 
8."Where's Your Kiss" 
9."Coffee Cup" 
10."Stranded" 
11."Turnstile" 
12."Chain Letter" 
13."Fayetteville" 

Personnel

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  • Kent Alphin - guitar
  • Scott Carle - drums
  • Chris Goode - bass
  • Greg Humphreys - vocals, guitar

References

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  1. ^ Findlay, Prentiss (15 Dec 1994). "Screamin' Cheetahs live the life they love". The Post and Courier. p. E14.
  2. ^ "Dillon Fence Biography & History". AllMusic.
  3. ^ Phialas, Mark (August 25, 1995). "Dillon Fence has plenty to hoot and crow about". Preview. The Herald-Sun. p. 3.
  4. ^ Parker, Chris (December 19, 2012). "After a quarter-century of making music in the Triangle, Greg Humphreys heads north". Indy Week.
  5. ^ Menconi, David (December 9, 1994). "Fenced In". What's Up. The News & Observer. p. 10.
  6. ^ a b Knauss, Christina Lee (2 Sep 1994). "Chapel Hill's Dillon Fence brings new sounds to the beach". The Sun News. p. 13.
  7. ^ "Single Reviews". Billboard. Vol. 106, no. 39. Sep 24, 1994. p. 73.
  8. ^ a b Johnson, Kenneth (26 Aug 1994). "Rock/pop". The Charlotte Observer. p. 5F.
  9. ^ "Riding the Fence of Fame". Daily Press. Retrieved 16 August 2021.
  10. ^ Haymes, Greg (December 8, 1994). "Loud, Rowdy Everclear Trio to Visit Bogie's". Times Union. p. P4.
  11. ^ Futch, Michael (November 4, 1994). "It's a Family Affair". At Ease. The Fayetteville Observer.
  12. ^ Menconi, David (16 Sep 1994). "Correcting that first impression". What's Up. The News & Observer. p. 11.
  13. ^ a b "Living Room Scene". AllMusic.
  14. ^ Ross, Curtis (January 13, 1995). "Dillon Fence, Living Room Scene". Friday Extra!. The Tampa Tribune. p. 21.
  15. ^ "Dillon Fence". Trouser Press. Retrieved 16 August 2021.
  16. ^ Jenkins, Mark (23 Sep 1994). "Dillon Straddles Consistency Fence". The Washington Post. p. N20.
  17. ^ Miller, Michael (September 8, 1995). "Hootie Invites a Family of Bands to the Ballpark". The State. p. D4.
  18. ^ Porter, Mark (April 7, 1995). "In the Clubs". Lifestyle. The Record. p. 6.
  19. ^ McCarty, Patrick (October 27, 1994). "Robbie Robertson Might As Well Have Recorded Himself Thinking". Richmond Times-Dispatch. p. D22.