2017 release from the singer/songwriter. Sometimes it can take years to find your calling. Not so for Julie Byrne, whose power of lyrical expression and musical nous seems inborn. Her second album, Not Even Happiness, has evolved at it's own pace. It spans recollections of bustling roadside diners, the stars over the high desert, the aching weariness of change, the wildflowers of the California coast, and the irresolvable mysteries of love. Teaching herself guitar, having picked it up when her father became ill and could no longer play, Byrne also admits she can't read music and doesn't even listen to it all that much - her own vinyl was the first in her possession. "Without possessing the right words, I'd describe to [producer] Eric Littman (Phantom Posse) and Jake Falby (who contributed strings) the feeling I wanted a song to evoke, or I would take a shot at singing what was in my head. Though over all, their contributions to the record are entirely their own vision and their own power." The follow-up to 2014's critically lauded Rooms With Walls And Windows, this release offers a bigger picture through a wider exploration of instruments and atmospherics, revealing an artist who has grown in confidence over time. Whether witnessing the Pacific Northwest for the first time ("Melting Grid"), the morning sky in the mountains of Boulder ("Natural Blue"), or a journey fragrant with rose water or reading Frank O'Hara aloud from the passenger seat during a drive through the Utah desert into the rainforest of Washington State ("The Sea As It Glides"), Not Even Happiness is Byrne's beguiling ode to the fringes of life.
J**R
Good album, but ---
Not Even Happiness is set in a bed of quietly fingerpicked guitar, subtle strings, and delicate vocals. Fans of Suzanne Vega, Priscilla Ahn, or Joan Baez can relax here – but only to a point, because the murmured reveries are rescinded by the shrieking squeaks of Byrne’s fingers on her strings. This amateur production mistake remands this otherwise pleasant album to the “itchy listen” bin. You may argue, “But doesn’t that make it more real?” Don’t even . . .
F**M
Beautiful
Everything about this album is pure gold. Julie’s voice is heavenly and the songs are so poetic.Do yourself a favor and buy this album.
R**R
Exquisite Album
Rare combination of masterful songwriting, deep lyrics, hauntingly beautiful voice, and brilliant recording. If folk-songwriter music is your thing, this should be at the top of your list.
K**A
Nice
Would like more diversification in lyrics and tone.For what it is it was nicely done.
F**T
works well
i love this artist and i LOVE this album. the vinyl works great, no skips or pauses at all!
G**T
Five Stars
Soft, melodic, entrancing, soulful.
C**S
.
BEAUTIFUL CD MOST AUTUMNAL LOVE HER VOICE AND ARRANGEMENTS ALSO THE GUITAR PLAYING
T**N
Beautiful music, beautifully done!!!!
I love this album, I love the compositions, the sound and engineering, her voice- everything! One of the best new albums I've heard in quite awhile and I've acquired a few thousand...thanks for the beautiful art!!!
A**N
Fine album of gentle acoustic melancholy songs, reflective and introspective with many travelling and natural world references
Julie has produced a lovely autumnal reflective album, largely just herself with a finger picking acoustic guitar, and a deep slightly husky quiet voice, with no histrionics on show. There are a few gentle background string arrangements as embellishment, but overall it is pretty stripped down production . She has been on the road, moving from place to place across America over previous couple of years, never staying anywhere for too long and putting her roots down. Overall there is a melancholy feeling, it seems she has not yet found the peace and love or place that she is looking for to settle down, there is a restlessness, trying to seek something special .Overall it is a short album, only some 32 minutes long, including a short instrumental interlude track in the middle, so you only get 8 actual songs. However if the quantity contained here is low, the quality is high, all beautiful stuff. To me it feels like immersing yourself in a warm scented bath and letting it slowly seep in and calm you down, drifting away on the imagery and gentle vibes.There are lots of references to travelling, crossing the country, solitude , being on tour, she seems to be seeking permanence in terms of place and a loving relationship , not surprising given her recent lifestyle. To counterbalance this there are many positive references to the calming effects of the natural world, from clouds passing over; stars; sun; sky; walking in the woods, the moon, the sea, and sitting in a garden.Having only listened to this album a couple of times so far, the early standout tracks for me are Sleepwalker and in particular the pinnacle of Natural Blue which is the album highlight for me. I think this will be disc that will grow in stature with repeated listening, and reveal more of itself with greater familiarity, but from early impressions it has created a relaxed introspective mood that goes down very nicely, thank you.
J**.
Ok
This Cd is pretty good. Bit like a female Leonard Cohen . Music not as poignant though.
A**D
This is an amazing piece of work
I'd never heard of this woman until amazon sugested it to me. This is an amazing piece of work. Incredible. Just lay back and relax. Im a new fan.
M**E
Five Stars
Beautiful, melancholic sound
A**R
but when I am I love it! Graham
Sometimes I am not in the right mood for her, but when I am I love it! Graham.
E**S
Five Stars
What a voice...!
I**R
Storie di tristissima dolcezza.
Come descrivere questo album? Canzoni pregne di dolcissima tristezza. Che ti cullano che ti rallentano i pensieri e i passi. Che si distaccano dalla frenesia del mondo. Talento enorme, Julie, un potenziale ancora non espresso pienamente. Ma datele una possibilità. E immergetevi nelle sue storie.
A**O
Bellissimo disco !
Confermo pienamente il giudizio positivo. Non conoscevo Julie Byrne, cd comprato "sulla fiducia" basandomi sulla recensione di una rivista hifi.Avercene di dischi così !
D**N
Five Stars
Great album, would recommend this to anyone.
C**L
Un achat qu’on ne regrette pas
Bon album mais qui peine à se différencier
B**N
Five Stars
One of my favorite CDs of 2017.
D**C
Rally Happiness
pur bonheur acoustique.
A**R
Five Stars
Brilliant with quick delivery would use againThanks
M**I
mi aspettavo di più
leggendo la recensione sul venerdì di repubblica sembrava un capolavoro , invece...In effetti c'è un bell' impasto tra una calda voce e una suggestiva chitarra acustica ma francamente quando hai sentito la prima canzone le altre sembrano tutte uguali.A dire il vero un po' meglio la chitarra della voce.Comunque piacevole, da tenere in sottofondo mentre fai qualcosa d'altro.Marco
M**K
There's a certain way to sing sad songs and this lacks something big
There's a certain way to sing sad songs and this lacks something big! I found that each track was nearly the same as the previous one and thus lost interest on the first play, not a good sign! Then I thought, a slow burner but the second and third play left me cold, there was no range in the singing style, no grab of my attention, as lyrics, singing and music left me wondering why did I even buy it!It was bought so I could break out of my usual go to singers and musicians but this buy would have be running back to that limited band,Not to my liking but I believe others may get it!
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