Search - Juliana Hatfield :: Beautiful Creature / Juliana's Pony (Bonus CD)

The whole is greater than the sum of its parts

J. B Brent | Oak Ridge, Tennessee USA | 05/31/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"You would be short changing yourself, literally and figuratively, by buying only one of Juliana Hatfield's new albums or getting each separately. Literally, because you can save around $7 picking up the box set (containing both albums) and get a 2-track bonus disc with screen saver and letter. Figuratively, because although it can be said that BEAUTIFUL CREATURE represents the light side of Juliana while TOTAL SYSTEM FAILURE the heavy side, this is an oversimplification. The slightly off-center vocal/acoustic harmonies which made me a Juliana fan early on are present on "Noblesse Oblige." A heavy rocker, "Easy Way Out," might could easily have fit in with the tunes on TOTAL SYSTEM FAILURE. There are abundant pop tunes on BEAUTIFUL CREATURE. "Close Your Eyes" would be my choice for a hit single. "Somebody is Waiting" reminds me of the Beatles and America. And "Might Be in Love" is very catchy. Juliana's two musical sides are somewhat similar to Neil Young's, although she hasn't ventured into country rock yet. The bonus disc contains an interesting cover of the Police's "Every Breath You Take," so pick up this limited edition box set while it's still available."

Doppelganger: See Juliana's two sides, good and the ugly

J. B Brent | 06/03/2000

(3 out of 5 stars)

"I ordered the double album and bought tickets for Juliana's show in San Francisco before hearing a single riff on any one of the singles.I was pleasantly surprised when I slipped in the bonus disk and heard a promising new song (When you Loved Me) with a cover of the Police's Every Breath You Take, which I saw her perform live at the Brattle Theater in Cambridge a couple years ago. (I read somewhere that Juliana used to play in a high school band with an affinity for Police tunes.)But I was immediately disappointed with Total System Failure. It's not just that the tunes are heavy rockers. (I love Sleater-Kinney, a punk band from Olympia that can turn up the volume.) And I liked Bed, Juliana's last album, which features plenty of heavy guitar playing. Trouble here is the production is messy. Riddled with feedback. Juliana's voice sounds flat. The band is unremarkable. (My sister complained after the hearing the CD: "This person can't sing.) I still liked a few of the tunes: Housboy, My Protgee, The Victim (the lyrics are a hoot: "Threw the baby in the trash. No one said I can't do that.") and 10-foot pole. Die-hard fans will still want it. But casual listeners can skip it.Most Juliana fans, however, will probably like the other disc in the set, Beautiful Creature. It reminds me of her pre-Bed hits, emphasizing voice over feedback. But Juliana's 30 now, and the songs are more mature both musically and lyrically. Cool Rock Boy and Choose Drugs are especially catchy. It might be too late for Juliana to make it back on the radio and the charts (We're living in the Age of Britney.) But there is plenty here to like."

Great for fans but not the place to start

J. B Brent | 05/18/2000

(3 out of 5 stars)

"It's a cliche when a great or not so great artist releases a double-album to say "it would have made a great single album had they paired it down." Juliana Hatfield is truly a great artist - I can't think of a singer/songwriter I've enjoyed more in the last ten years - but these albums aren't her best work. Beautiful Creatures is the better of the two, with about eight of the ultra-hooky, ultra-intelligent songs which makes her so endearing. The rest seem unfinished or are a little flat. Total Systems Failure is less successful: with the exception of "My Protege," "Ten Foot Pole" and a couple of swell punky numbers, these songs plod more than they rock. A must for fans, but not what I would play to convince the unconverted."