The Tree of Forgiveness

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]

• John Prine: Lead vocals and acoustic guitar
• Dave Cobb: Acoustic guitar, 12-string guitar, and mellotron
• Pat McLaughlin: Background vocals and mandolin
• Jason Wilber: Electric guitar
• Dave Jacques: Bass
• Ken Blevins: Drums, kick drum, and rack tom
• Mike Webb: B3, piano, and mellotron

More information Aggregate scores, Source ...

Professional ratings

Aggregate scores
Source	Rating
AnyDecentMusic?	7.3/10[7]
Metacritic	77/100[8]
Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	[9]
Chicago Tribune	[10]
The Independent	[11]
The Irish Times	[12]
Mojo	[13]
Pitchfork	7.6/10[14]
Rolling Stone	[15]
The Times	[16]
Uncut	8/10[17]
Vice	A−[18]

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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".^[8] Rolling Stone listed the album as the 22nd best album of 2018^[19] and the 91st best album of the 2010s.^[20]

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.^[21] It has sold 156,000 copies in the United States as of September 2019.^[22]