Search - Juliana Hatfield :: Juliana's Pony: Total System Failure

Subtly unsubtle

S. Johnston | Sydney, Australia | 07/20/2000

(4 out of 5 stars)

"From the opening track Juliana makes her point clear - she wants to assault your senses with noise. But to dismiss this album based on first impressions is to perhaps to miss the point. It can grow on you. I bought both this and Beautiful Creature at the same time, and proceeded to play the other album more. But slowly JP:TSF has started growing on me. Firstly, lyrically this album is really clever. Let's Get Married features great examples the typically laconic wit that's embedded throughout: "Torture the bridesmaids, make them wear lime green... Lie to the pastor, promise 'forever'... If you change your sweatpants I'll shave my legs..." Secondly, there's some good musical innovation and inventiveness here and there; belting changes in beat, edgy chord progressions, solid bass riffs and so forth. Unfortunately for those who prefer the little-girl-lost style Juliana, and for those still uninitiated to her brand of songwriting, these subtleties will be ignored as it's easy to be driven to distraction by the unsubtlety of all that distortion and those big fat riffy basslines. There's definitely a certain rawness laced throughout most songs, eg: "Metal Fume Fever" which reminds me a little of Nirvana's "Bleach" for displaced rawness. Despite initially preferring the softer edge of Beautiful Creature, I personally don't mind such harder-edged stuff, I've acquired the taste for Juliana's rugged sound; many others won't. Sure, it could wear your ears down if you don't develop the taste for it. Perhaps if there were more of a sprinkling of softer songs in between then some of the other reviewers here may have been kinder? I guess that's one of pitfalls of her dual album 'experiment', isolating all her heavier stuff on to this one album, making it potentially monotonous for some listeners. I say let this album grow on you, and reserve your final judgement of it until after you've seen her play it live (it should sound great live)."

Really grows on you

surfer142 | Toronto, Canada | 02/13/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I'll start by admitting that I have been a Juliana fan since her Blake Babies days. That said, I've read a variety of reviews on this disc and have to chime in with my two cents to say that IMO, it is a pretty darn good album. It took me awhile to get my head around it because it is quite a departure, but it really grows on you. I have always liked the harder side of Juliana (when she rocks-it-up in a song), particularly because she has a such a great songwriting knack of weaving good riffs into material primarily comprised of lighter musical fare (which provided the riffs with extra impact, of course). Total System Failure is different because the whole thing is pretty much a full bore barrage of guitars. But as I analyzed why I liked it so much, I came to the conclusion that a big part of it was due to the fact that Juliana's staple sarcasm and wit come through loud and clear on this one. She takes direct aim at middle America and cuts it in two in such as way that is vintage Juliana. I prefer this one over Beautiful Creature (which is also good, but not as energetic that's for sure)."

Ive got the fever

Stinkface | Sydney Aus | 07/27/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"contrary to what other reveiwers have written, this is an excellent, inspired, well written, purposely sloppy album. its raw, sarcatic, dark and poppy, with toooo many undertones and hidden meanings to mentions. if juliana ever wrote a song with line of "i *something* you" it would have to be "i forgive you". she hates and... well hates, (cant say she loves that would just be lying) and it shows. its emotional and beautiful, angry and light filled. this album is excellent."