ALBUM REVIEW By SAM SCARPELLI
2021 SEPTEMBER 28
You won’t find anyone with a more playful attitude yet the willingness to be brutally honest than Juliana Hatfield. Her musical passions are constructed with charm and tasteful melodies the likes of which only she could fathom. Self indulgent angst and proving you weren’t afraid to feel was a hallmark of the Grunge era, and this album delivers the goods. I imagine it represented something really fresh to a lot of people when it was released.
The opening track “Supermodel” rolls in like something falling out of the sky, determined and decisive. Bittersweet lyrics lament the shallowness of an industry that praises looks over artistry. The mood darkens with “My Sister” in all the feelings of hope, admiration and betrayal that can only come from family. In an interview Juliana said she is actually an only child, adding to the intrigue of someone willing to take an emotional journey just for the sake of it. “For The Birds” has an atmospheric music video with a heavy sense of nostalgia, like holding on to something slipping away while being destroyed by the elements.
Anyone in need of a lift-me-up while in search of new experiences will find a kinship in “Feelin’ Massachusetts” with its witty lyrics and pleas for fun. The bridge section and guitar solo are a nice change of pace before “Spin The Bottle,” perhaps the most famous track off the album. The music video was created for the Wynona Ryder and Ethan Hawke movie “Reality Bites” and directed by Ben Stiller. Closing with a philosophical heavy hitter the droning chorus of “I Got No Idols” lifts you up with a sense of empowerment, knowing you can forge your own path.
Saying exactly how she feels without compromise is something I love about Juliana’s music. She has a humble attitude with an unhinged passion, both sweet and wicked at the same time. Her vocal melodies are particularly creative and utilize her voice in a way that stands out from other artists of the era. Where others brought anger into their singing Juliana has more a saccharine apathy, a perfect addition to the Alternative soundscape. At the end of the day the band feels like a group of best friends having fun and kicking ass while they do it.
I can’t praise her music highly enough and recommend it to anyone interested in getting into the Grunge era! You can count on Juliana to stay true to her character, and none of her albums suffered from the Pop evolution that took place coming out of the 90s. She is a true artist to the core with a wealth of music to discover, check it out!
Guitars, Vocals Bass Drums |
JULIANA HATFIELD DEAN FISHER TODD PHILIPS |
01 Supermodel 02 My Sister 03 This Is The Sound 04 For The Birds 05 Mabel 06 A Dame With A Rod 07 Addicted 08 Feelin' Massachusetts 09 Spin The Bottle 10 President Garfield 11 Little Pieces 12 I Got No Idols |