Pick of the Week #38: Julie Doiron

I wrote (a poorly written and edited) post not so long ago about Julie Doiron, how I'd inexplicably had never heard any of her music, and how supposedly great she was/is. After soliciting some opinions and getting some feedback, I ended up settling on starting into her collection with her newest album I Can Wonder What You Did With Your Day.

So, I listened to it, and didn't really think much of it. It's unassuming, conversational, and not something that is going to blow you away, knock your socks off, or otherwise rock your cazbah. Based on this interview with Colin Medley (see below also) that kind of seems fitting. She doesn't seem like one for self-promotion, which is rare for a musician, let alone a successful musician, and she generally seems like a pleasant, humble sort of person. I've come to appreciate that this is the beauty of her music, that it's not about creating a persona, making people's heads turn, or anything else except for her songs. She's not, or doesn't seem like, she's interested in celebrity or the other trappings of professional musicianship. She likes writing songs, having people hear them, and isn't worried so much about what happens after that.

There are a couple of songs that feature an electric guitar "Spill Yer Lungs" and "Consolation Prize", otherwise the songs are JD picking/strumming away on her guitar. The songs are simple, and I kind of feel like they're the kind of songs that anyone could write, but that's the beauty of them, because 100s and 100s of people try to write songs like these, and they can't. It's like watching a great athlete, you watch them and it looks easy, and then you try to copy them and you hurt yourself, badly.

Now, not having much beyond this album I can't speak with any sort of authority about Julie Doiron being a Canadian 'indie' music icon, but I can extrapolate and suggest that mentioning her alongside BM favourite Hayden wouldn't be completely out of place. I mean, for her to end up in the BM Hall of Fame (note, this does not actually exist but I feel like I might actually start my own Hall of Fame) she's going to have to produce on some of her other albums, but she's well on her way (I'm sure she feels like she's really made it now!)...

Also, kudos to JD for winning NxEW's Shadow Polaris Prize.

[mp3] Julie Doiron - Consolation Prize
[mp3] Julie Doiron - When Brakes Get Wet

"Soundcheck #23 w/ Colin Medley"




Pick of the Week #1: Ketch Harbour Wolves
Pick of the Week #2: Rah Rah
Pick of the Week #3: Glasvegas/Animal Collective
Pick of the Week #4: Bruce Peninsula
Pick of the Week #5: The Antlers
Pick of the Week #6: The Darcys
Pick of the Week #7: Ohbijou (Swift Feet for Troubling Times)
Pick of the Week #8: Gentlemen Husbands
Pick of the Week #9: Chris Whitley
Pick of the Week #10: Alela Diane
Pick of the Week #11: K'naan
Pick of the Week #12: TOR/Sufjan Stevens
Pick of the Week #13: Timber Timbre
Pick of the Week #14: Justis
Pick of the Week #15: Hibiscus & Rosehips Compilation
Pick of the Week #16: Patrick Watson
Pick of the Week #17: Olenka and the Autumn Lovers
Pick of the Week #18: The Liptonians
Pick of the Week #19: Sunparlour Players
Pick of the Week #20: Black Hat Brigade
Pick of the Week #21: Howie Beck
Pick of the Week #22: Pink Mountaintops
Pick of the Week #23: Still Life Still
Pick of the Week #24: Hayden
Pick of the Week #25: Snailhouse
Pick of the Week #26: Dog Day
Pick of the Week #27: Ohbijou (Beacons)
Pick of the Week #28: Dog is Blue
Pick of the Week #29: Parkas
Pick of the Week #30: The Wooden Sky
Pick of the Week #31: Bowerbirds
Pick of the Week #32: Miss Maya
Pick of the Week #33: Ben Folds Presents ...
Pick of the Week #34: Mantis
Pick of the Week #35: Diamond Rings
Pick of the Week #36: The Wilderness of Manitoba
Pick of the Week #37: Asher Roth