- Release date:
- February 26, 2008
- Artist/Band name:
- Richard Julian
- Record label:
- Manhattan
- Official Web Site:
- http://www.richardjulianmusic.com/
Why you should care: Julian counts people like Randy Newman, Bonnie Raitt and the aforementioned Ms. Jones among his fans—and they all know a thing or two about good songwriting.
Verdict: On past efforts, including his first Manhattan Records set, 2006’s “Slow New York,” Julian has undercut his considerable talents with a penchant for too-clever lyrics and a singing style that frequently lapses into forced falsetto. There’s none of that on “Sunday Morning,” which can probably be credited, at least in part, to the presence of Mitchell Froom, one of the best folk-rock producers in the business. Under Froom’s veteran hand, Julian reigns in his worst habits and lets his best gifts—jazz-inflected chord progressions, a dry, Newman-esque sense of humor—shine their brightest. The result is the best set of Julian’s career, including a handful of standout tracks (the bouncy “If You Stay,” the keenly observed “Brooklyn in the Morning,” even the corny but irresistibly breezy “God III”) that might bring him the crossover pop success that’s long eluded him.
X-Factor: Julian is a native of Delaware, which might already make him that state’s second most famous musical export—next to George Thorogood.
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