Born Under
1995 studio album by Martin Zellar
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Born Under is the debut album by the American musician Martin Zellar, released in 1995.[3][4] Its first two singles were "Lie to Me" and "Problem Solved".[5] The album was rereleased, with bonus tracks, in 2004.[6]
| Born Under | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | 1995 | |||
| Genre | Country rock[1] | |||
| Label | Rykodisc[2] | |||
| Producer | Martin Zellar, Steve McKinstry | |||
| Martin Zellar chronology | ||||
| ||||
Production
Recorded in Northfield, Minnesota, the album was produced by Zellar and Steve McKinstry.[7][8][9] Soul Asylum's Dan Murphy played guitar on "Lie to Me".[10] Many of the songs were inspired by Zellar's wife and son.[11] The album cover photo was shot in Grand Forks, North Dakota.[12]
Critical reception
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   [13] |
| MusicHound Rock: The Essential Album Guide | [9] |
| The Republican |  [14] |
| The State | [1] |
Trouser Press stated that "Zellar has a grit-strewn voice with a mannered catch better suited to the harsh honesty of his lyrics than the placid curves of his melodies."[10] The Chicago Reader wrote that the album's "not the sort of recording that's going to perk up your next party, but it is exactly what a lot of people say there isn't much of these days: adult, smart, perceptive, and emotionally genuine rock music."[15] The Milwaukee Journal determined that "Zellar's nasal, angular voice is a ragged standout here against all manner of plaintive backing, from lonesome guitar pings and mournful cello drones to swoopy organ fills."[16]
Stereo Review deemed Born Under "as moving a piece of confessional pop as you're likely to see these days, a tuneful, lovely-on-the-surface song cycle of reflective country-rock musings that only barely conceal some rather world-class emotional turmoil beneath."[17] The Santa Fe New Mexican noted that on some songs Zellar "sings in the voice of a drunken lout, albeit a drunken lout with a conscience that is only slightly weaker than the demons who hold him down."[18] The Los Angeles Times declared that Zellar "writes blue-collar tales about hard times and hard lessons that are reminiscent of the eloquence of the Blasters in their prime."[19]
AllMusic panned Zellar's vocals, but also wrote that "twangy roadhouse rock alternates with unabashed honky-tonk balladry, and real-life working class concerns dominate the lyrics."[13]
Track listing
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Lie to Me" | |
| 2. | "Something's Gotta Happen" | |
| 3. | "East Side Boys" | |
| 4. | "Falling Sky" | |
| 5. | "Problem Solved" | |
| 6. | "Cross My Heart" | |
| 7. | "Lay This Down Gently" | |
| 8. | "Summer Kind of Sad" | |
| 9. | "Force a Smile" | |
| 10. | "Let Go" |