If Only You Knew
Julie
Sound Wave Productions
2001
12 tracks
Hearing Julie sing takes me back forty years to when I was working at CFCW, a Canadian country music station, and Dolly Parton was just starting to get a lot of air-play. Here is a similar sweet hillbilly voice edged with a strong sense of story and a pop-sensibility. Julie's music has come down from the mountains and learned to be very comfortable in the city.
It doesn't hurt that Julie, whose full name is Julie Angela Griffin, has collected seven terrific musicians around her for support. With such fine performances by the musicians and with polished harmonies all 'round, even a lesser vocalist would sound good. With Julie at the centre of it all, the sound comes near perfection.
For this, her second release, Julie has selected songs from the worlds of folk, country, and pop music that are clearly well-suited to her voice. While there is also that popular music feel so characteristic of the early Dolly Parton or Emmylou Harris, in general this music slides between what I would call hillbilly music and a more distinctive bluegrass style.
A real surprise on this release, because at first it seems so out of place, is Julie's swinging bluegrass arrangement of "All My Loving, a Lennon and McCartney song originally made a popular hit by the Beatles. Surprisingly, this quirky arrangement - which seems to combine elements of jazz, Twenties swing, and bluegrass - actually works.
While I would say that there isn't a bad performance on this release, I'm personally drawn to a couple of songs. Having grown up hearing the likes of The Carter Family and other "folk" artists, as they were called then, I'm drawn to the simple old-timey songs that seem to best showcase Julie's lovely voice.
The Forester Sisters' lovely "I Fell In Love Again Last Night" as performed by Julie is the song that reminds me most of Dolly Parton's early style. This is a sensitive interpretation that gives the listener the feeling that this singer has taken to heart every word, that she has lived this story and relives it again as she tells it."
"I'm Not Over You" gives that same impression of coming from another, simpler time, as do the Dollyesque "Heartbreaker" and Julie's folksy interpretation of "The Rope" (the arrangement of which, for some reason, reminds me of three decade old George Hamilton IV songs).
If You Only Knew is a professional, well-performed set of country music with an old-time feel enhanced by innovative arrangements and striking harmonies. It's well worth the listen.
For more information on If You Only Knew as well as Julie's newest release, I'm Not Lisa, visit Juliesmusic.com.
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Review written: February 18, 2005
Page modified: February 18, 2005
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