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Juliana HatfieldIn Exile Deo Zoe/Shock Last year singer/songwriter Liz Phair went down a strange road that can only be described as "selling out," engaging the writing services of hit-makers The Matrix for her self-titled album. Predictably enough, most of the album ended up sounding like their other project Avril Lavigne and it's now not uncommon to hear the odd Phair track playing over a teen drama series. It's probably exactly what she intended, but it was a move that didn't really appeal to me. As one of those rare artists who have consistently written albums I've liked, I was hoping against hope that Juliana Hatfield had stuck to her guns. Roughly four years ago Ms Hatfield brought out two albums on the same day, giving fans plenty to chew on. There was the distorted guitar band rock of 'Total System Failure' and the quieter, more reflective 'Beautiful Creature.' Both were great albums in their own right, and in most respects 'In Exile Deo' represents the middle ground between the previous double releases. This is an especially good thing, resulting in some of Hatfield's best work to date. As usual, Hatfield's guitar work dominates the suitably modest production - in a good way. From economic chord work of the first two tracks (Get In Line and Jamie's In Town) to her tasteful solos (exemplified in Singing In The Shower), she shows great restraint. She also manages to whip out some wonderfully simple rock, not just in the two opening tracks but throughout the entire album. Because We Love You continually threatens to break out into a distorted chorus; but Hatfield is smarter than that, giving us just half a moment of faux heaviness. Hatfield also would not be the first to incorporate dog barking samples with walking basslines and harmonicas (Dirty Dog), but manages to keep it fun, rather than cliched. Just have a listen to Ms Hatfield quietly bark: "arf, arf". It's too damn cute. Also dominating the album is that old lyrical theme; relationships as breakup themes (Forever, Some Rainy Day) are sandwiched by love gone wrong warnings (Tourist, Dirty Dog). The only exception here seems to be the midlife crisis blues of Singing In The Shower. There's no obvious singles to be found on 'In Exile Deo', but that's not a criticism at all. Has there really been one since Universal Heart-Beat, from the now decade old 'Only Everything'? Here's hoping Hatfield doesn't ever go down the Phair path. I don't think I could bear losing this one.  |
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