The Tree of Forgiveness explained

The Tree of Forgiveness
Type:studio
Artist:John Prine
Cover:John Prine - The Tree of Forgiveness.png
Recorded:July 13, 2017–18
Studio:RCA Studio A (Nashville, Tennessee)[1]
Genre:Country folk, Americana
Length:32:51
Label:Oh Boy
Producer:Dave Cobb
Prev Title:For Better, or Worse
Prev Year:2016

The Tree of Forgiveness is the eighteenth and final studio album by American country folk singer John Prine. The album was released on April 13, 2018. It is the last album released by Prine before his death on April 7, 2020.

Background

The album is Prine's first album since 2005's Fair & Square to consist of his own new songs.[2] Most of the songs were co-written with other songwriters, including Pat McLaughlin, Dan Auerbach, Keith Sykes, and Phil Spector.[3] The album features guest vocals from artists such as Jason Isbell, Amanda Shires, and Brandi Carlile.[4] Isbell and Shires also played instruments in some of the tracks.[5] The album was recorded at RCA Studio A in Nashville.[6]

Critical reception

The Tree of Forgiveness has received positive reviews from professional music critics, with a Metacritic rating of 77 based on 13 critics, indicating "generally favorable reviews". Rolling Stone listed the album as the 22nd best album of 2018 [7] and the 91st best album of the 2010s [8]

Commercial performance

The album debuted at No. 5 on the Billboard 200, which is Prine's best-ever ranking on the chart. It also debuted at No. 2 on the Top Country Albums chart and Rock Albums, and No. 1 on Americana/Folk Albums, selling 53,000 copies (54,000 album-equivalent units) in the first week.[9] It has sold 156,000 copies in the United States as of September 2019.[10]

Charts

Year-end charts

Chart (2018)Position
US Top Country Albums (Billboard)[11] 58
US Top Rock Albums (Billboard)[12] 73

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Gold. Adam. Three Years After Being Saved, Studio A Still Makes an Impact. Nashville Scene. 8 February 2018. 5 August 2024.
  2. News: John Prine Returns to Songwriting, Jaunty and Dark, on 'The Tree of Forgiveness' . Jon . Pareles. April 18, 2018 . The New York Times.
  3. Web site: John Prine Announces New Album of Original Songs, Releases "Summer’s End" . Winston . Cook-Wilson . February 8, 2018 . Spin.
  4. Web site: John Prine To Release His First Album Of New Songs In 13 Years . February 8, 2018 . NPR . Jacob . Ganz.
  5. Web site: Listen to John Prine's New Song, "Summer's End," From Upcoming Album, "The Tree of Forgiveness". Jim . Casey . Nash FM 1071 . February 8, 2018.
  6. Web site: John Prine Runs the Gamut in The Tree of Forgiveness . https://web.archive.org/web/20180425064125/http://www.cmt.com/news/1793755/john-prine-runs-the-gamut-in-the-tree-of-forgiveness/ . dead . April 25, 2018 . Edward . Morris . April 24, 2018. CMT.
  7. News: The 100 Best Albums of the 2010s. Joseph . Hudak . Rolling Stone . December 13, 2018.
  8. News: 50 Best Albums of 2018. Joseph . Hudak . Rolling Stone . December 3, 2019.
  9. Web site: Jason Aldean Scores Fourth No. 1 on Billboard 200 Albums Chart With 'Rearview Town'. April 22, 2018 . Keith. Caulfield . Billboard.
  10. News: Top 10 Country Album Sales Chart: September 25, 2019. Matt . Bjorke . September 25, 2019. Roughstock . October 1, 2019 .
  11. Web site: Top Country Albums – Year-End 2018. Billboard. July 15, 2020.
  12. Web site: Top Rock Albums – Year-End 2018. Billboard. July 15, 2020.