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Shooting Rubberbands at the Stars
Studio album by Edie Brickell & New Bohemians
Released	August 9, 1988
Studio	Rockfield Studios (Rockfield, Wales)
Genre	Alternative rock, jangle pop, folk rock
Length	48:22
Label	Geffen
Producer	Pat Moran
Edie Brickell & New Bohemians chronology
Shooting Rubberbands at the Stars (1988) Ghost of a Dog (1990)

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.

Reception

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic
Rolling Stone
The Village Voice	B−

"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."

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.

Charts

References

1. ^ "Shooting Rubberbands awards". AllMusic. Retrieved 2014-04-29.
2. ^ McCartney, Kelly. "Shooting Rubberbands at the Stars – Edie Brickell & New Bohemians". AllMusic. Retrieved April 29, 2014.
3. Mann, B. (2003). 99 Red Balloons And 100 Other All-Time Great One-Hit Wonders. Citadel. p. 33. ISBN 9780806525167.
4. "Top of the Pops" (PDF). Cash Box. March 18, 1989. p. 20. Retrieved 2022-12-21.
5. Azerrad, Michael (December 1, 1988). "Edie Brickell & New Bohemians: Shooting Rubberbands at the Stars". Rolling Stone. New York. Retrieved June 22, 2024.
6. Christgau, Robert (December 27, 1988). "Christgau's Consumer Guide". The Village Voice. New York. Retrieved April 13, 2013.
7. Time Out, June 21–28, 1989
8. Publishing Information as found at discogs
9. "australian-charts.com Edie Brickell and New Bohemians - Shooting Rubberbands at the Stars" (ASP). Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved 2011-10-23.
10. "Edie Brickell and New Bohemians - Shooting Rubberbands at the Stars – austriancharts.at" (ASP) (in German). Retrieved 2011-09-18.
11. "dutchcharts.nl Edie Brickell and New Bohemians - Shooting Rubberbands at the Stars" (ASP). dutchcharts.nl (in Dutch). MegaCharts. Retrieved 2011-10-23.
12. "Album Search: Edie Brickell and New Bohemians - Shooting Rubberbands at the Stars" (ASP) (in German). Media Control. Retrieved 2011-10-23.
13. ^ "Hit Parade Italia - Gli album più venduti del 1989" (in Italian). hitparadeitalia.it. Retrieved 2011-10-23.
14. "charts.nz - Edie Brickell and New Bohemians - Shooting Rubberbands at the Stars" (ASP). Recording Industry Association of New Zealand. Retrieved 2011-10-23.
15. "The Official Charts Company - Edie Brickell and New Bohemians - Shooting Rubberbands at the Stars" (PHP). Official Charts Company. Retrieved 2011-10-23.
16. Allmusic - Shooting Rubberbands at the Stars > Charts & Awards > Billboard Albums
17. "The ARIA Australian Top 100 Albums Chart – 1989 (61–100) (from The ARIA Report Issue No. 1)". Imgur.com (original document published by ARIA). Retrieved 2017-04-29.
18. "RPM Top 100 Albums of 1989". RPM. Archived from the original on 2013-12-31. Retrieved 2011-10-03.
19. "Billboard.BIZ". billboard.biz. Retrieved 2011-10-24.
20. "American album certifications – Edie Brickell – Shooting Rubberbands at the Stars". Recording Industry Association of America.

• Edie Brickell & New Bohemians albums
• 1988 debut albums
• Geffen Records albums
• Albums produced by Pat Moran
• Albums recorded at Rockfield Studios