Just Fred

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title: "Just Fred" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["fred-schneider-albums", "1996-albums", "reprise-records-albums", "albums-produced-by-steve-albini"] topic_path: "arts/music" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Just_Fred" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0

::data[format=table title="Infobox album"]

Field	Value
name	Just Fred
type	Album
artist	Fred Schneider
cover	Jus fred.jpg
released	April 23, 1996
* Alternative rock<ref name	"auto"/
* pop-punk<ref name	"NYT 1996"/
label	Reprise
producer	Steve Albini
prev_title	Fred Schneider and the Shake Society
prev_year	1984/1991
next_title	The Superions
next_year	2010
::

| name = Just Fred | type = Album | artist = Fred Schneider | cover = Jus fred.jpg | alt = | released = April 23, 1996 | recorded = | venue = | studio = | genre =

• Alternative rock
• pop-punk | length = | label = Reprise | producer = Steve Albini | prev_title = Fred Schneider and the Shake Society | prev_year = 1984/1991 | next_title = The Superions | next_year = 2010 ::quote So he enlisted my help in finding musicians. So many of my generation of underground musicians just absolutely worshipped Fred Schneider. Everybody just leapt at the opportunity. There was a long list of prospective names for the backing band, and Deadly Cupcake was not unanimous, but the near-unanimous choice. And that was Russell Simins from the Blues Explosion, Rick Didjit from the Didjits, and Tom Zaluckyj from the band Tar. Everybody that I approached about doing it immediately said yes, and then they also really fucking delivered. They really committed to the project. I thought it was great. I really enjoyed it. ::

Just Fred is the second solo album by the American musician Fred Schneider, released in 1996. Its first single was "Bulldozer". Schneider promoted the album by playing shows with his band, the Slobs.

Production

Produced by Steve Albini, the album was recorded in two weeks.

"Coconut" is a cover of the Harry Nilsson song; it first appeared on a Nilsson tribute album.

Critical reception

|rev1 = AllMusic |rev1Score = |rev2= Robert Christgau |rev2score= |rev3 = The Encyclopedia of Popular Music |rev3score = |rev4 = Fort Worth Star-Telegram |rev4score = |rev5 = The Huntsville Times |rev5score = 3/5 |rev6 = Knoxville News Sentinel |rev6score = |rev7 = Orange County Register |rev7score = |rev8 = Toronto Sun |rev8score = The Knoxville News Sentinel stated: "Schneider still uses his distinctive style—an emphatic shout/sing delivery with an ironic tone—but now it's accompanied by heavy angst as he sings about endangered freedon ('Helicopter'), betrayal ('Lick', 'Secret Sharer') and destruction ('Bulldozer')." The Huntsville Times declared that Just Fred "borders on inanity at times, but it's just as enjoyable as 'Love Shack' or 'Roam', and no one could argue that those tracks contributed to the salvation of mankind."

The Telegram & Gazette deemed the album "a bomb" and "an annoying drag of a record." The New York Times concluded that "with punk in the middle of a revival that takes itself seriously, Mr. Schneider has latched on to the pop flippancy amid punk's burly guitars ... Schneider treats punk rock as another kitschy source." The Atlanta Journal-Constitution determined that "a few tracks illuminate surprising similarities between Schneider's arch yelp and Johnny Rotten's—'Secret Sharer' could be a Never Mind the Bollocks outtake."

AllMusic called the album "a surprisingly enjoyable fusion of Schneider's bizarre charm and lean, loud alternative rock that proudly illustrates his punk roots."

Track listing

All lyrics by Fred Schneider, music written as noted, except "Coconut" which is written by Harry Nilsson

1. "Whip" (Tim Mosher)
2. "Helicopter" (Richard Barone)
3. "Sugar in My Hog" † (Shadowy Men on a Shadowy Planet)
4. "Bulldozer" (Mosher)
5. "Coconut" (Arranged by Richard Barone)
6. "Center of the Universe" (John Coté)
7. "Radioactive Lady Eyeball" (Mosher)
8. "Lick" † (Shadowy Men on a Shadowy Planet)
9. "Bad Dream" †† (Richard Barone, Gary Lucas)
10. "Secret Sharer" † (Mosher)
11. "Stroke of Genius" †† (Mosher)

† = performed by Shadowy Men on a Shadowy Planet

†† = performed by Six Finger Satellite

All others performed by Deadly Cupcake

Personnel

• Fred Schneider – piano; keyboards; vocals for all tracks
• Richard Barone – co-writer, "Helicopter", "Bad Dream"; arranger, "Coconut"
• Shadowy Men on a Shadowy Planet
  • Reid Diamond – bass
  • Don Pyle – drums
  • Brian Connelly – guitars
• Six Finger Satellite
  • Jay Ryan – TFA couplet maximizer
  • Richard Pelletier – drums
  • John MacLean – guitar, synth
  • James Apt – bass
• Deadly Cupcake
  • Rick Sims – guitar
  • Russell Simins – drums
  • Tom Zaluckyj – bass

References

References

1. (May 1996). "Reviews". CMJ New Music Monthly.
2. Weingarten, Christopher R.. (2024-05-09). "Steve Albini Reflects On A Legendary Career In One Of His Final Interviews".
3. "Fred Schneider Biography, Songs, & Albums".
4. (Aug 1996). "Just Fred". Audio.
5. (May 11, 1996). "Fred Schneider: Bulldozer".
6. (16 Mar 1996). "Fred Schneider's new hard-edged act looks to have wings". Austin American-Statesman.
7. (May 13, 1996). "Nightlife". New York.
8. (5 May 1996). "'Just Fred' Schneider rediscovers punk". The Boston Globe.
9. (May 15, 1996). "B-52's Fred Schneider talks a good punk rock album". San Antonio Express-News.
10. (Sep 1996). "Fred Schneider: Just...Fred". Stereo Review.
11. "SOLO B-52 FLIES HIGH; LIZARD SINKS". Hartford Courant.
12. "Just Fred – Fred Schneider | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic".
13. "Robert Christgau: CG: Fred Schneider".
14. Larkin, Colin. (May 27, 2011). "The Encyclopedia of Popular Music". Omnibus Press.
15. (May 3, 1996). "Fred Schneider, Just . . . Fred". Fort Worth Star-Telegram.
16. (May 9, 1996). "'Just Fred' Fred Schneider". The Huntsville Times.
17. (17 May 1996). "SCHNEIDER'S 'JUST FRED' FILLED WITH UNEXPECTED RAGE". Knoxville News Sentinel.
18. (June 28, 1996). "SOUND CHECK". Orange County Register.
19. (May 12, 1996). "FRED SCHNEIDER Just Fred". Toronto Sun.
20. (May 2, 1996). "Just Fred: Fred Schneider".
21. (23 June 1996). "Fred Schneider bombs without the B-52's". Telegram & Gazette.
22. (11 May 1996). "Fred Schneider". The New York Times.
23. (25 Apr 1996). "FRED SCHNEIDER 'Just Fred'". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

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