16 track debut album from the much heralded New York singer songwriter Johnathan Rice.

Since the release of his EP “Extended Player 24:26” Johnathan has played across North America with Ray LaMontagne, Gomez, Rachael Yamagata, Dido, Starsailor, The Cardigans & Mason Jennings

He is back now for the third time touring in the U.K – First it was with Maroon 5, now with Martha Wainwright, and in July with R.E.M and his own headlining tour

His songs have been heard on The O.C, Smallville, Everwood, One Tree Hill & Six Feet Under

He was recently featured on MTV’s “You Hear It First”

In November, “Walk The Line” is being released with Johnathan playing the role of Roy Orbison in the film which chronicles the early years of music legend Johnny Cash

This album is available for immediate dispatch

Press Quotes

“’Trouble Is Real’ is a remarkably intimate and striking outing. 8/10” NME, LP REVIEW, 23RD July

“’Trouble Is Real’ is a work of eclectic supremecy that should raise the bar for singer-songwriters everywhere. For Real. 4/5” THE FLY, LP REVIEW, JULY 2005 issue

"An intelligent, contagiously hooky and undeniably accomplished affair…Just watch him go." - TIME OUT, LP REVIEW, 29th June

“Reserved for a Sunday morning with nothing to do but fend off a raging hangover…it’s eclectic, gentle, sweet and highly accomplished.” THE SUN, LP REVIEW, 1st July

“Rivetingly intense songwriting, dry wit and doe-eyed charm.” - Music Week ‘Tipsters’

“He is not far from being a very big star.” - The Times, live review, Barfly London, Feb 2005

“His demeanour is a delight, his music more mercurial. The Sharpshooter’s Blues was a spellbinding saga of political intrigue, juxtaposed with personal despair and redemption…the rapt audience hung on every word.” - Evening Standard, live review, Barfly London, May 2005

“No relation to Damien, although Bright Eyes fans will find much to love here.” - Q Magazine, ‘Break So Easy’, in Q Recommended Download Chart

“Songs full of heartfelt emotion, tenderly plucked guitars complemented by magnificent orchestration. Acrobat is where we see Rice at his best, just him and an acoustic guitar…as you focus on an individuality that may tread the grandiose dreams of some singer/songwriter, but which is carving out a niche for itself, nonetheless.” - Record Collector

“A gifted new talent from Virginia. Widely touted as ‘the next Nick Drake’ in the US and thankfully nothing whatsoever to do with Damien Rice.” - Sunday Telegraph

“Trouble Is Real is a tremendous debut. Although indebted to Bob Dylan, Nick Drake and Jeff Buckley, it is a record of singular ambition…one sequence runs from intense orchestral fireworks to radio pop, then a dusty, ghostly blues fragment followed by hammering rock.” - The Guardian

“Johnathan has songs to turn to when you need something meaningful and deep” - Daily Star, May 2005

"At the age of 21 Johnathan Rice has toured with Martha Wainwright and (as of July) REM, been cast opposite Joaquin Phoenix in a new Johnny Cash biopic, worked with Saddle Creek’s Mike Mogis and to top it all is apparently squiring Jenny Lewis of Rilo Kiley; with all this in mind it’s hard to know whether to listen to this album or choke with jealousy. Luckily he’s produced a remarkable set of songs held together by a voice reminiscent of a more assured Nick Drake; it’s so warm and comforting he should be employed singing audio books into mental wards. You also get your money’s worth; it’s telling that even over 16 songs and an hour of your time this is an album that never outstays it’s welcome. While there are a lot of players putting their oar in, the heart of this record is just a voice and an acoustic guitar; the aptly named Break so Easy is typical with its delicate guitar line and breathy vocal. Yet while on first listen you could mistake these songs for a series of lovelorn poems, deeper investigation reveals it as deeply current; the subext of Behind the Frontlines and Put Me in your Holy War should need little explanation and a perusal of the lyrics on City on Fire make it no surprise to find that Rice moved to NY on 9 September 2001. But the message never overwhelms the music; it’s come out at the ideal time as the easy pace of this album makes it ideal for lying in sun-drenched fields to. It won’t have anybody storming an embassy but it might make them have a little sigh. The centre of the record and the first real change in tone is My Mother’s Son, an epic in strings that comes as a shock and you sense Mogis’ hand when an incongruous drum machine segues it into Leave the Light On. After this the mood turns darker but while he does lay on the atmospherics, the Saddle Creek producer-in-residence does his job with a light touch. Props also for the Pete Yorn-ish Kiss Me Goodbye, which a fiver says will be the first single. All in all it’s a debut that should allow JR to hold his head up in a world fast becoming clogged with male acoustic troubadours. All this and talent too. How annoying." - Drowned In Sound 4/5

Special Offer

All orders for the Johnathan Rice album and singles will receive a free poster while stocks last

For more information, visit this artist's webpage at indian.co.uk