MUSIC REVIEWS
JULIE ROBERTS

Country soul artist Julie Roberts’ debut CD, Julie Roberts, is grabbing attention across the music world. Her music has been described as emotion-soaked and sensuous and tends to be a stark contrast to the pop-country music that's so prevalent now. The music is raw and real, honest yet optimistic. A quick listen to the CD reminds the listener of Bonnie Ratt on such country blues cuts as “You Ain’t Down Home,” while up beat cuts such as “Just ’Cause We Can” are reminiscent of rock artist Sheryl Crow. However, a familiarity with the CD brings the listener to the realization that Julie Roberts is a unique artist that will capture the hearts and minds of music aficionados of almost all music genres.

The vast majority of the cuts on the CD are from the country blues genre. “Break Down Here” is the saga of traveling down the road in a car breaking down on the never-ending road to nowhere. “Wake Up Older” is a song about a hangover after a love gone wrong and how lovers seem to go out of their way to hurt each other after the love is gone. Other country blues songs on the CD include, “Pot Of Gold” and the emotionally moving songs “If You Had Called Yesterday,” and “Unlove Me.” A few very good upbeat songs, such as “No Way Out,” help to keep the CD moving. “Break Down Here” and “No Way Out” were released as a CD single in late March.

Roberts says, “I just look for lyrics that are real. That's the basis for all my songs. The lyrics have to mean something to me. When I listen for a song, I have got to know someone who has lived it or I have to have lived it myself, because I become that character for three minutes. I want every song to hit someone in some way, because they hit me.”

One of the most captivating songs on the CD, “Rain On A Tin Roof,” is a good example of the artist’s ideals. “Rain On A Tin Roof” is a soulful ballad of a failed love, but the lyrics and emotion in the song literally take any listener back in time and place where they actually heard the sound of rain hitting a tin roof during a summer thunder storm. The haunting chorus says:

“His love is like rain on a tin roof,

The sweet song of a summer time storm.

And oh, how it moves you,

It’s a melody of passion ragin’ on… And then it’s gone.”

The CD was produced by Brent Rowan. Musicians on the CD include David Hungate on drums, Gordon Mote on bass, Brian Sutton on keyboards, and Brent Rowan on guitar and steel guitar. Vince Gill helps with backup vocals on several cuts on the CD.

This is a great CD and the music world looks forward to her next tour.

Another great CD is Train’s My Private Nation released in 2003. From the mellow, but dramatic “Calling All Angels” to the upbeat title cut this CD holds a little something for everyone. “Lincoln Avenue,” “When I Look To The Sky,” and “Following Rita” show Train's ability to write really good ballads, with terrific lyrics and music. “I'm About to Come Alive,” a ballad featuring acoustic guitars, may be one of the best songs Train has ever written. Several semi-rap songs include “Save The Day” and the cute, crazy, but rhythmic “Get To Me.”

If My Private Nation has a downside it is that it follows Train’s very successful 2001 release, Drops of Jupiter. While some Train fans feel that Drops of Jupiter may never be equaled, other fans have been willing to give My Private Nation a try and found they enjoyed the CD. The CD is clean, well written and produced, and would be great for family travel when “what the we gonna hear argument starts before you even get out ‘a town.”

Nick Drake, a 1970’s singer/songwriter who died tragically after releasing only three albums, has made a major comeback since his song “Pink Moon” was used in a Volkswagen commercial. All three of his LPs (Pink Moon, Bryter Layter, and Five Leaves Left) have now been remastered and rereleased on CD and are available at a reasonable price. Drake’s acoustic guitar style drifts between English folk, country blues and Celtic finger picking. Some songs utilize accompanying instruments that are simple yet subtle. While Drake’s last work, Pink Moon, has received much acclaim, Five Leaves Left is also an excellent blend of the lyrics, music, and mood of this young English artist. For those readers who need an introduction to Nick Drake, a 16 cut anthology entitled Way To Blue, is now available. If you have not experienced Nick Drake’s music, you may want to give it a try.