P (album)
{{Infobox album
| name = P
| type = studio
| artist = P
| cover = P(albumcover).jpg
| alt =
| released = November 21, 1995
| recorded =
| venue =
| studio =
| genre = Alternative rock
| length = 57:08
| label = Capitol
| producer = Andrew Weiss
| prev_title =
| prev_year =
| next_title =
| next_year =
| misc = {{Singles
| name = P
| type = studio
| single1 = Michael Stipe
| single1date = 1995
}}
}}
P is the debut and only album by American alternative rock band P, featuring Bill Carter, Johnny Depp, Gibby Haynes and Sal Jenco.Strong, Martin C. (2003) The Great Indie Discography, Canongate, {{ISBN|1-84195-335-0}}, p. 248 It was released on November 21, 1995, through Capitol Records and was reissued on May 8, 2007, under the Caroline Records label.{{cite web | url=http://www.stereogum.com/1053871/johnny-depps-8-most-notable-rock-collaborations/franchises/listomania/ | title=Johnny Depp's 8 Most Notable Rock Collaborations | publisher=Stereogum | date=Jun 4, 2012 | accessdate=April 9, 2014 | author=Nelson, Michael}} Produced by bassist Andrew Weiss, the album also featured contributions from Red Hot Chili Peppers bassist Flea, Sex Pistols guitarist Steve Jones, and pianist and Los Angeles scene fixture Chuck E. Weiss.
The album features a diverse "array of alternative rock, touching on funk metal, R.E.M.-style folk-rock, and grunge." The album also features cover versions of Daniel Johnston's "I Save Cigarette Butts"{{cite book | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=o7ocj0Qn2IsC&q=%22johnny+depp%22+p+%22daniel+johnston%22&pg=PA70 | title=Hi, how are You?: The Life, Art & Music of Daniel Johnston | publisher=Last Gasp | author=Yazdani, Tarssa and Don Goede | year=2006 | pages=72 | isbn=086719667X}} and ABBA's "Dancing Queen".{{cite web | url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1686498/johnny-depp-music-mtv-movie-awards.jhtml | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120606012019/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1686498/johnny-depp-music-mtv-movie-awards.jhtml | url-status=dead | archive-date=June 6, 2012 | title=Johnny Depp's Movie Awards Jam Session And His Rock And Roll Life | publisher=MTV | date=June 4, 2012 | accessdate=April 9, 2014 | author=Montgomery, James}} The track "Michael Stipe", named after the R.E.M. frontman, was released as a single in 1995 and received airplay on alternative radio.{{cite web | url=http://www.allmusic.com/artist/p-mn0000898681/biography | title=P – biography | publisher=AllMusic | date=|author=Deming, Mark | accessdate=April 9, 2014}}
Critical reception
{{Music ratings
| rev1 = AllMusic
| rev1score = {{rating|4|5}}{{cite web | url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/p-mw0000175487 | title=P Review | publisher=AllMusic | accessdate=April 9, 2014 | author=Erlewine, Stephen Thomas | author-link=Stephen Thomas Erlewine }}
| rev2= Robert Christgau
| rev2score= {{rating-Christgau|cut}}{{cite web | url=http://robertchristgau.com/get_artist.php?name=p | title=Consumer Guide: P | accessdate=19 July 2016 | author=Christgau, Robert}}
| rev3= Los Angeles Times
| rev3score={{rating|3|4}}{{cite web | url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1995-12-02-ca-9431-story.html | title=P Review | work=Los Angeles Times | date=2 December 1995 | access-date=19 July 2016 | author=Masuo, Sandy}}
| rev4 = Q
| rev4score = {{rating|1|5}}{{cite journal|last=Quantick|first=David|date=March 1996|title=P: P|journal=Q|pages=101}}
}}
CD Review panned the album, stating, "Though the group aims to be something other than a Gen X conversation piece, much of this debut is pointless dross."{{cite magazine | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Ly49AQAAIAAJ&q=P%27s+chief+guitarist+is+a+certain+Mr.+Johnny+Depp | title=P – P album review | magazine=CD Review | year=1995 | volume=12 | issue=1–9}} In Q, David Quantick awarded the album one out of five stars. He wrote, "Records made by actors are dreadful (there are no exceptions)... The result makes the phrase 'self-indulgence' seem puny and not up to the job." Sandy Masuo of the Los Angeles Times gave the album three out of four stars, describing it as "a surreal blend of rough-hewn rock, Gothic Western twang and psychedelic dub."
In a retrospective review, AllMusic senior editor Stephen Thomas Erlewine noted the band's eclectic musical style. He stated: "While they are musically proficient, some of their songs aren't quite up to par. Nevertheless, their debut album is a surprisingly enjoyable effort."
Track listing
{{Track listing
|all_writing = P, unless otherwise noted
|total_length = 57:08
|title1 = I Save Cigarette Butts
|writer1 = Daniel Johnston
|note1 = Daniel Johnston cover
|length1 = 3:43
|title2 = Zing Splash
|writer2 =
|length2 = 3:16
|title3 = Michael Stipe
|writer3 =
|length3 = 4:25
|title4 = Oklahoma
|writer4 =
|length4 = 3:38
|title5 = Dancing Queen
|writer5 = Benny Andersson, Björn Ulvaeus, Stig Anderson
|note5 = ABBA cover
|length5 = 3:47
|title6 = Jon Glenn (Mega Mix)
|note6 =
|writer6 =
|length6 = 9:00
|title7 = Mr. Officer
|writer7 =
|length7 = 3:43
|title8 = White Man Sings the Blues
|writer8 =
|length8 = 6:40
|title9 = Die Anne
|writer9 =
|length9 = 4:43
|title10 = Scrapings from Ring
|writer10 =
|length10 = 7:51
|title11 = The Deal
|writer11 =
|length11 = 6:05
}}
Personnel
;P
- Bill Carter – guitar, bass
- Johnny Depp – guitar, bass
- Gibby Haynes – vocals, artwork
- Sal Jenco – drums, percussion
;Additional musicians
- Ruth Ellsworth-Carter – keyboards
- Flea – bass
- Steve Jones – guitar
- Chuck E. Weiss – washboard
;Technical personnel
- Andrew Weiss – production, bass, mellotron, Moog, guitar
- Tim Devine – A&R
- Tommy Steele – art direction
- Wendy Dougan – art direction, design
- Christina Bookman – artwork (print production)
- Richard Huredia – additional engineering
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{Discogs release|4923413|type=album}}
{{Johnny Depp}}
{{Authority control}}