Shooting Rubberbands at the Stars is the debut studio album by American alternative rock band Edie Brickell & New Bohemians, released on August 9, 1988, by Geffen Records. The album went 2× platinum in the United States.
"What I Am" was the lead single and big hit from the album, reaching #7 on the Billboard Hot 100. The follow-up single, "Circle," was about strained relationships. Although described by author Brent Mann as "the perfect follow up single to 'What I Am'" and which "had 'smash' written all over it," it stalled at #48 on the Billboard Hot 100 and fared slightly better on the Billboard Mainstream Rock chart, reaching #32. Cash Box said of "Circle" that "The key to this gentle song is Brickell’s breathy intensity. Supported by an acoustic-slanted track, she manages to sell the unusually dark lyric shadings." Another song from the album, "Little Miss S." was inspired by Edie Sedgwick and reached #38 on the Mainstream Rock chart and #14 on the Modern Rock Tracks chart.
Track listing
Personnel
The New Bohemians
Edie Brickell – vocals
Kenny Withrow – guitars
Brad Houser – bass
Brandon Aly – drums
John Bush – percussion
with
Paul "Wix" Wickens – keyboards
Robbie Blunt – guitars
Chris Whitten – drums
John Henry – backing vocals
Both Chris Whitten and Paul "Wix" Wickens were/are members of Paul McCartney's band; Whitten from 1989 to 1990 and Wickens from 1989–present.
Production
Pat Moran – producer, engineer
George Marino – mastering at Sterling Sound (New York City, New York) Barry Diament – CD mastering at Barry Diament Mastering (New York City, New York) Gabrielle Raumberger – art coordinator Terry Robertson – CD design Edie Brickell – cover illustration Mark Abrahams – solo photography Bob Cook – band photography Tracks 6 & 8 published by Geffen Music-Withrow Publishing-Edie Brickell Songs. Tracks 11 & 12 published by Geffen Music-Edie Brickell Songs. All other tracks published by Geffen Music-Strangemind Productions-Enlightened Kitty-Withrow Publishing-Edie Brickell Songs.
Reception
"Shooting Rubberbands at the Stars is almost impossible to be cynical about (I tried)," remarked Time Out, "and the band are so likeable it's almost unreal."