White Courtesy Phone

{{Infobox album

| name = White Courtesy Phone

| type = studio

| artist = Angel Corpus Christi

| cover = White Courtesy Phone.jpg|border=yes

| alt =

| released = 1995

| recorded =

| venue =

| studio =

| genre = Alternative rock, new wave

| length =

| label = Almo Sounds/Geffen

| producer = Craig Leon

| prev_title = The 80's

| prev_year = 1989

| next_title = Divine Healer

| next_year = 2003

}}

White Courtesy Phone is an album by the American musician Angel Corpus Christi, released in 1995.{{Cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/angel-corpus-christi-mn0000034727|title=Angel Corpus Christi Songs, Albums, Reviews, Bio & More|website=AllMusic}}{{cite magazine |last1=Marsh |first1=Dave |title=Rock — White Courtesy Phone by Angel Corpus Christi |magazine=Playboy |date=Sep 1995 |volume=42 |issue=9 |page=26}} Her major label debut, it was also the first release on Jerry Moss's and Herb Alpert's Almo Sounds label.{{cite news |last1=Gnerre |first1=Sam |title=Angel Corpus Christi |work=Daily Breeze |date=April 28, 1995 |page=K28}}

The album's first single was "Candy".{{cite news |last1=Shuster |first1=Fred |title=Squeezing Originality from Modern Rock |work=Los Angeles Daily News |date=21 Apr 1995 |page=L27}}

Production

The album was produced by Craig Leon. Alpert, Hal Blaine, and Dawn Richardson contributed to White Courtesy Phone.{{cite news |last1=Snyder |first1=Michael |title=Voice of an Angel |work=San Francisco Chronicle |date=April 9, 1995 |department=Sunday Datebook |page=40}}

It was the last album to be recorded in Studio A at Sausalito's Record Plant before a technology rebuild.{{cite news |last1=Snyder |first1=Michael |title=Angel in Heaven |work=San Francisco Chronicle |date=December 18, 1994 |department=Sunday Datebook |page=45}} "John Cassavetes" is about the filmmaker.{{cite news |last1=Harmon |first1=Rick |title=Alternative artist sounds wonderful on 'White Courtesy Phone' |work=Montgomery Advertiser |date=May 18, 1995 |page=5C}} A song about gun violence in American schools, "Me and My Beretta", was included only on European editions of the album.{{cite news |title=Angel Corpus Christi |work=Airdrie & Coatbridge Advertiser |date=Jan 31, 1996 |page=10}}

Critical reception

{{album ratings

|rev1 = AllMusic

|rev1score = {{rating|3|5}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/white-courtesy-phone-mw0000171954|title=White Courtesy Phone|website=AllMusic}}

|rev2 = Daily Breeze

|rev2score = {{rating|3|4}}

|rev3 = Deseret News

|rev3score = {{rating|2.5|4}}{{cite news |last1=Iwasaki |first1=Scott |title=Albums Mix Neo-Mainstream Rock, Blues, Pop |work=Deseret News |date=May 17, 1995 |page=C7}}

|rev4 = The Encyclopedia of Popular Music

|rev4score = {{rating|4|5}}{{cite book |last1=Larkin |first1=Colin |title=The Encyclopedia of Popular Music |date=2006 |publisher=MUZE |volume=1 |page=193}}

|rev5 = Knoxville News Sentinel

|rev5score = {{rating|4|5}}{{cite news |last1=Campbell |first1=Chuck |title=New Releases: Celine Dion, Chris Isaak, Angel Corpus Christi |work=Knoxville News Sentinel |agency=Scripps Howard News Service |date=June 6, 1995}}

|rev6 = The San Diego Union-Tribune

|rev6score = {{rating|1.5|4}}{{cite news |last1=Toombs |first1=Mikel |title=Angel Corpus Christi, 'White Courtesy Phone' |work=The San Diego Union-Tribune |date=May 18, 1995 |department=Entertainment |page=20}}

}}

Trouser Press wrote: "Surrounding her carbon-dated canned vocal presence with diverse synth-draped arrangements that manage to sound simultaneously complex and rinkydink, Angel croons the elementary melodies of supremely ingenious hook-filled songs that bounce and bop in an echo of early-’80s dance-club pogo fare by Toni Basil, Lene Lovich, Martha and the Muffins, Algebra Suicide, Hilary, etc."{{cite web |title=Angel Corpus Christi |url=https://trouserpress.com/reviews/angel-corpus-christi/ |website=Trouser Press |access-date=18 October 2021}} The Guardian noted Angel Corpus Christi's use of the accordion and her "deadpan delivery," writing that "sometimes it just sounds like half-hearted 'alternative' malarkey, but not often enough to spoil things."{{cite news |last1=Sullivan |first1=Caroline |title=This week's pop cd releases |work=The Guardian |date=9 Feb 1996 |page=T10}}

The San Diego Union-Tribune opined: "Uncomfortably mating Laurie Anderson and, yes, the Angels ... White Courtesy Phone has a few nicely campy moments but precious little inspiration." The Deseret News thought that "those who dance to the doldrums of life may cherish this campy but innovative album—even though it does get monotonous after the fourth track." The Daily Breeze concluded that "Christi's accordion playing works because it fits seamlessly with the band's low-fi sound without dominating it ... Leon keeps a light touch throughout, allowing the band to walk the fine line between enjoyable campiness and tackiness merely for its own sake." The Knoxville News Sentinel praised Angel Corpus Christi's "magnetic charm" and "gratifying accordion."

Track listing

{{Track listing

| all_writing =

| title1 = Big Black Cloud

| length1 =

| title2 = Threw It Away

| length2 =

| title3 = Homeboy

| length3 =

| title4 = Candy

| length4 =

| title5 = Nature Girl

| length5 =

| title6 = Dim the Lights

| length6 =

| title7 = Down

| length7 =

| title8 = John Cassavetes

| length8 =

| title9 = Lazy

| length9 =

| title10 = Fall

| length10 =

| title11 = Been There Done That

| length11 =

| title12 = Way Out West

| length12 =

| total_length =

}}

References