Trouble Is Real

1	Short Song for Strings 1:49
2	Mid November 4:05
3	Kiss Me Goodbye 3:52
4	So Sweet 3:56
5	Break So Easy 4:07
6	Lady Memphis 3:33
7	Behind the Frontlines 4:12
8	My Mother's Son 5:20
9	Leave the Light on 4:17
10	City on Fire 4:14
11	Put Me in Your Holy War 1:19
12	Salvation Day 3:30
13	Stay at Home 4:33
14	The Acrobat 5:37
15	Hickory Wind (Outro) 1:32
16	I Wouldn't Miss It for the World 2:24

Barnes & Noble

Johnathan Rice is a show-off. On his debut, Trouble Is Real, the 21-year-old segues effortlessly among styles, moving gracefully from orchestral singer-songwriter fare ("Mid-November") and chiming radio-friendly pop ("Kiss Me Goodbye") to sweet acoustic waltzes ("Break So Easy") and soulful, bluesy shuffles ("Lady Memphis"). For one so young, Rice sounds fully formed; although Trouble Is Real ranges far and wide, it's coherent and confident. Rice grew up in West Virginia and in Glasgow, Scotland, and his deep, slightly raspy voice and adventurous eclecticism put him in league with Ed Harcourt, Joseph Arthur, and Damien Rice (no relation). He manages to juxtapose the old-timey blues of "Put Me in Your Holy War" with the blazing power-chord wall-of-sound of "Salvation Day" and then jump to the music hall swing of "Stay at Home," and the three songs sound like a seamless suite. Part of the credit is due to producer Mike Mogis, known for his imaginative work with Bright Eyes and Rilo Kiley (whose Jenny Lewis co-wrote "Behind the Frontlines" with Rice). But Rice's precocious talents -- he also plays Roy Orbison in the forthcoming Johnny Cash biopic, Walk the Line -- are on display most impressively throughout Trouble Is Real. Steve Klinge

All Music Guide

Trouble Is Real by Johnathan Rice finds a romantic with a sultry baritone. He's boyishly charming with vibrant enthusiasm, but he's not just another singer/songwriter with an acoustic guitar, hungry to make a great first impression. This twentysomething is eager for a cinematic path to guide him through life's constant complexities. His vocal delivery is unforgettable, and vocalists such as Peter Gabriel, Nick Drake, and Ed Harcourt come to mind. Ignore the fact that all six of the songs found on 2004's Extended Player 24:26 EP are featured here. Listening to such EP standouts as "Mid November" and "My Mother's Son" once more won't hurt, thus making Trouble Is Real even heavier in sound and story. "Lady Memphis" is an old-timey foot-stomper with its sepia-toned array of organs and acoustic guitars. Other acoustic-driven tracks such as "Behind the Frontlines," "City on Fire," and "I Wouldn't Miss It for the World" showcase Rice's honest approach to songwriting, and it's quite enjoyable. Even more striking are the moments where he lets himself be a musician and a singer. "So Sweet" and "Salvation Day" thunder with so much feeling, the listener should want to grab for it. Trouble Is Real is a remarkable debut record, and those who fell for Pete Yorn's Musicforthemorningafter and adored the candidness found on Badly Drawn Boy's About a Boy won't be able to contain themselves. MacKenzie Wilson