Jonny Fritz

Jonathan Russell Fritz, formerly known as Jonny Corndawg,[2] is an American alternative country musician who was born in Missoula, Montana. He has released four albums, two under the name "Jonny Corndawg" and two as "Jonny Fritz".

Jonny Fritz
Background information
Birth nameJonathan Russell Fritz
Also known asJonny Corndawg
BornMontana, United States[1]
GenresAlternative country
Occupation(s)Alternative country musician
Instrument(s)Guitar
LabelsLoose, ATO
Websitejonnyfritz.com

Career

In 2008, Fritz (then known as Jonny Corndawg) released his debut album, I’m Not Ready To Be a Daddy.[3] In 2010, Fritz released a 7" with Deer Tick on Partisan Records, of which only 500 copies were made.[4] He released his second album, Down on the Bikini Line, on August 30, 2011 in the United States on the Nasty Memories label.[5] In 2012, Fritz stated that he wanted to be called "Jonny Fritz," his birth name, rather than Jonny Corndawg, as he had previously been known.[2] He has said that he made this decision in part based on advice from record label executives, and because he did not want people to know what to expect from his music based on his name.[6]

In 2013, Fritz released Dad Country, his third album overall and his first under the name "Jonny Fritz", on ATO Records.[7] It was recorded at Jackson Browne's studio in Los Angeles,[8] and was produced by Taylor Goldsmith of Dawes.[9] It was followed by the release of the album's single "Goodbye Summer", for which a music video was also made.[10]

Jonnys' 4th record Sweet Creep was released in 2016. Recorded over three days using a makeshift outdoor studio in the Montecito Hills of California. Featuring Taylor Goldsmith of Dawes (band), playing multiple instruments, including guitar, bass, and keyboard, his brother Griffin Goldsmith on drums, and My Morning Jackets prolific front man Jim James also lending his voice, and guitar to multiple tracks.[9] It was followed by the release of the album's single "Goodbye Summer", for which a music video was also made.[11]

Critical reception

Down on the Bikini Line received a B− grade from both the A.V. Club and Consequence of Sound. In the A.V. Club, Steven Hyden wrote that the album's songs were "faithful and tuneful genre exercises,"[12] and in Consequence of Sound, Alex Young wrote that Corndawg displays "a preternatural grasp of honky-tonk, bluegrass, traditional, and outlaw country music" on the album. However, Young also said that the album's lyrics "can still sometimes be read as insulting".[3]

According to Metacritic, Dad Country received generally favorable reviews from critics.[13] Hal Horowitz reviewed Dad Country for American Songwriter and gave it 3.5 out of 5 stars. In his review, Horowitz wrote that "brevity works to Fritz’s advantage" on the album and concluded that the music on Dad Country was "some of [Fritz's] best".[14]

Fritz released his fourth studio album, Sweet Creep, October 14, 2016. Rolling Stone named the album #14 in their 40 best country records of 2016.[15]

Notable performances

Fritz performed at SXSW in 2012[16] and 2014.[17]

Discography
Title Details Peak positions
US Country
[18]
I'm Not Ready to Be a Daddy
  • Release date: 2008
  • Label: Nasty Memories Records
 —
Down on the Bikini Line
  • Release date: August 30, 2011
  • Label: Nasty Memories Records
 —
Dad Country 72
Sweet Creep
- "—" denotes releases that did not chart

References
  1. "About". Jonny Fritz Website. Retrieved 7 December 2014.
  2. Schlansky, Evan (10 August 2012). "Don't Call Me Corndawg: Jonny Corndawg Changes His Name". American Songwriter. Retrieved 7 December 2014.
  3. Young, Alex (16 August 2011). "Jonny Corndawg – Down on the Bikini Line". Consequence of Sound. Retrieved 7 December 2014.
  4. Grimm, Beca (2 November 2010). "Deer Tick Drops 7-inch Split with Jonny Corndawg, Announces Tour". Paste. Retrieved 7 December 2014.
  5. Haag, Stephen (30 August 2011). "Jonny Corndawg: Down on the Bikini Line". PopMatters. Retrieved 7 December 2014.
  6. Smith, Kelly Rae (6 August 2014). "Dad-country crooner Jonny Fritz discusses ups, downs, and nicknames". Charleston City Paper. Retrieved 8 December 2014.
  7. Christgau, Robert (25 April 2013). "Jonny Fritz: A Country Jester Gets Personal". NPR. Retrieved 7 December 2014.
  8. Leahey, Andres (9 April 2013). "Full Album Stream: Jonny Fritz, Dad Country". American Songwriter. Retrieved 8 December 2014.
  9. Luerssen, John D. (13 May 2013). "Artist to Watch: Jonny Fritz". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 7 December 2014.
  10. Eakin, Marah (24 April 2013). "Watch Jonny "Corndawg" Fritz dodge fireworks in the desert in the new video for "Goodbye Summer"". The AV Club. Retrieved 7 December 2014.
  11. Eakin, Marah (24 April 2013). "Watch Jonny "Corndawg" Fritz dodge fireworks in the desert in the new video for "Goodbye Summer"". The AV Club. Retrieved 7 December 2014.
  12. Hyden, Steven (6 September 2011). "Jonny Corndawg: Down On The Bikini Line". The A.V. Club. Retrieved 7 December 2014.
  13. "Dad Country". Metacritic. Retrieved 7 December 2014.
  14. Horowitz, Hal (16 April 2013). "Jonny Fritz: Dad Country". American Songwriter. Retrieved 8 December 2014.
  15. Hudak, Joseph (7 December 2016). "40 Best Country Albums of 2016: Sweet Creep". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 2017-07-21.
  16. Parton, Chris (14 March 2012). "Jonny Corndawg Puts the Hammer Down for SXSW". CMT. Retrieved 7 December 2014.
  17. Kornhaber, Spencer (17 March 2014). "18 Bands to Check Out From South by Southwest 2014". The Atlantic. Retrieved 7 December 2014.
  18. "Jonny Fritz Album & Song Chart History - Top Country Albums". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved December 11, 2014.
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