The Strawberry Blonde School of Class

The first record. It started in September 2001 with two songs, “Friday Night” and “Bond”, recorded and mixed in two days at Hitsville studios in Helsinki. It took another nine days over ten months to finish.

Christmas 2001 at Petrax Studios, Hollola: “Blooms”, “If You Wanna Jump Better Let Go” and “Wild”. May 2002 in Helsinki, recorded by Jukka Puurula of Don Huonot: “Down”, “Despicable”, “Don’t Wanna Meet”, “The World’s Going Round the Bend” and “Hey Punk!”. Two songs mixed by Ripa Eskolin of Lemonator. Three mixed in Lasse Kurki’s bedroom. The last one, “Titanic”, recorded and mixed in June 2002 at home on Janne’s laptop.

A totally self-produced record. Released by Stupido Records. Release party at Stupido Club, Bar Alahuone, on 21 August 2002, with The Duplo!. In the shops on 30 August.

Pop duets are rare in rock — Emmylou Harris and Gram Parsons, Sonny & Cher, Lee Hazlewood and Nancy Sinatra being some of the few. Now Treeball follow this tradition, an album full of cynical yet tender duets, sprinkled with individual performances, reminding some cooler listeners of Velvet Underground, Pavement, Burt Bacharach, Big Star, Grandaddy and The Go-Betweens.

Credits

• Nick Triani: vocals, guitars. Astrid Swan: vocals, guitars. Aleksi Mänttäri: bass. Ville Alajuuma: keyboards. Janne Lehtinen: drums.
• Guests: Markus Nordenstreng (guitar), Olli Haavisto, Jimi Pääkallo, Olli and Risto.
• Produced and mostly written by Nick Triani.
• Recorded at Hitsville (Helsinki), Petrax Studios (Hollola) and in Helsinki by Jukka Puurula. Mixing: Ripa Eskolin, Lasse Kurki.
• Mastered by Janne Lehtinen. Cover design: Janne Lehtinen. Photos: Riitta Supperi.

Reviews

Sincere and lovely pop for all boys and girls… One of the finest American style pop records to have come out of Finland in a long while.

Markku Roinila, Rumba, no. 16/2002, ★★★★

One of the best albums made in Finland in its own, wide genre.

Tero Alanko, Soundi, no. 9/2002, ★★★★

Well thought-out arrangements and sincere, yet skilful playing raise this record above the usual guitar pop records.

Otto Talvio, Nyt-liite, no. 37/2002, ★★★★

The band is at its best in simpler songs such as ‘Wild’ and ‘The World’s Going Round The Bend’, where their country-underpinnings are strongly present.

Ari Väntänen, Sue, September 2002, ★★★★

What am I to say? The album of the year? Perhaps – don’t know. Anyway, this music forces a content smile on my face.

Mike Korbik, twang-tone.de, December 2002, ★★★★★ (of 6), album of the month

The Strawberry Blonde School of Class is a helplessly boring record.

Hannu Linkola, Rockmusica.net, October 2002, ★★