Social Studies (Loudon Wainwright III album)

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Social Studies
Studio album by
Loudon Wainwright III
Released1999
GenreFolk, satire
Length52:08
LabelHannibal[1]
ProducerJoe Boyd, John Wood
Loudon Wainwright III chronology
BBC Sessions
(1998) 		Social Studies
(1999) 		Last Man on Earth
(2001)
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[2]
Robert Christgau(1-star Honorable Mention)[3]
The Encyclopedia of Popular Music[4]
Rolling Stone[5]

Social Studies is a studio album by Loudon Wainwright III, released in 1999.[6][7] The album comprises various topical and satirical songs, originally produced for National Public Radio and based upon then-current issues and events, such as the Tonya Harding scandal, the O. J. Simpson murder trial, the lead-up to Y2K, and controversies surrounding comments made by former Republican U.S. Senator Jesse Helms.[8]

Regarding the album's topical nature, Wainwright notes: "It's something that no-one does anymore; write songs about current events. When I was young there were a lot of topical songwriters around; maybe folk music had more impact on culture back then. I see these songs as a kind of musical journalism. My father was a journalist, for Life magazine, and I've definitely inherited something of that approach."[9]

Production[edit]

The album was written over a period of 15 years, with Wainwright composing on his Martin guitar.[10][11] It was produced by Joe Boyd and John Wood.[12] NPR declined to air several of the songs that eventually became part of the album's track listing.[13]

Critical reception[edit]

Rolling Stone wrote that "the best political songs combine passionate commitment and analytic command, laced with streaks of black humor, as in prime Mekons or Gil Scott-Heron."[5] The Guardian deemed Social Studies "largely an album about alienation, anonymous telephone sex, and a society that lives vicariously, either through the OJ soap opera, or by watching TV news."[14]

The Boston Globe thought that the album "shines with the same wise-guy wit, but also with a kind-eyed empathy that gives even his goofiest songs a sage maturity and warm emotional resonance."[15] The Independent opined that Wainwright "is as wry and acid as ever, but most tracks should probably have remained one-off live broadcasts, as intended."[16]

Track listing[edit]

All tracks composed by Loudon Wainwright III

  1. "What Gives" – 3:29
  2. "Tonya's Twirls" – 3:37
  3. "New Street People" – 2:50
  4. "Carmine Street" – 2:57
  5. "O.J." – 3:13
  6. "Leap Of Faith" – 2:53
  7. "Conspiracies" – 2:17
  8. "Christmas Morning" – 3:36
  9. "Y2K" – 6:13
  10. "Number One" – 3:39
  11. "Bad Man" – 3:21
  12. "Inaugural Blues" – 3:19
  13. "Our Boy Bill" – 3:11
  14. "Jesse Don't Like It" – 4:06
  15. "Pretty Good Day" – 4:19

Personnel[edit]

Release history[edit]

  • CD: Hannibal HNCD 1442

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Sweethearts of the Jukebox: Parsons, Carpenter, Wainwright". July 12, 1999.
  2. ^ "Social Studies - Loudon Wainwright III | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic" – via www.allmusic.com.
  3. ^ "Robert Christgau: CG: Artist 838". www.robertchristgau.com.
  4. ^ The Encyclopedia of Popular Music – Colin Larkin – Google Books
  5. ^ a b Loudon Wainwright III: Social Studies : Music Reviews : Rolling Stone
  6. ^ "Loudon Wainwright III Biography, Songs, & Albums". AllMusic.
  7. ^ Alden, Grant; Blackstock, Peter (September 15, 2009). "No Depression # 78: Family Style". University of Texas Press – via Google Books.
  8. ^ "Loudon Wainwright III Mocks The News". MTV News.
  9. ^ "Loudon Wainwright III". Lw3.com. 1999-06-20. Archived from the original on 2011-07-27. Retrieved 2012-01-12.
  10. ^ "Loudon Wainwright III Does His Homework". exclaim.ca.
  11. ^ "Triple A". CMJ New Music Report. CMJ Network, Inc. July 26, 1999 – via Google Books.
  12. ^ "Reviews & Previews". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. July 24, 1999 – via Google Books.
  13. ^ Knopper, Steve (23 Sep 1999). "LOUDON WAINWRIGHT III 'Social Studies'". Newsday. p. C7.
  14. ^ Denselow, Robin (16 July 1999). "Music: Pop CD releases Loudon Wainwright III Social Studies (Hannibal/Rykodisc)". The Guardian. Friday. p. 18.
  15. ^ Alarik, Scott (15 Oct 1999). "NEXT ACT, OFFSTAGE". The Boston Globe. p. D15.
  16. ^ Barber, Nicholas (25 July 1999). "CD REVIEWS". The Independent. Features. p. 9.
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