OFFICIAL: http://www.juliamcdonaldmusic.com/
Written
by Jay Snyder, posted by blog admin
A
6-track indie/pop/dub spectacle is the fruit of Julia McDonald’s hard musical
labor. The songstress writes her own
material and, at 19, is chasing and reaching her artistic goals with immense
hunger. This sweet vibration emanating
from these six songs definitely have the pop hooks to catch a lot of ears, but
those who listen closely will hear some other sounds developing in her arsenal
that sets her apart from the crowded pack.
The
title track is all about feeling and how to build on it; beginning as a lone
keyboard/vocal arrangement that benefits from an acoustic interjection or two,
as the structure of the song congeals digital beats push the chorus to great
heights and everything settles into place. It showcases McDonald’s talent for wringing
all that she can out of a vocal melody or musical arrangement. “Games” shifts the EP into a slinking,
snaking groove that employs energetic guitar lines, snappy drum programming,
lush synthesizer melodies and a prominent lyrical hook. The way Julia makes quick runs through the
verses and slower, more direct phrasing in the chorus craft a catchy number
with multiple personalities agreeing for the good of the song.
Halting
the tempos and going for a sing-song winner, “Pretty Committee” is all line and
hook. Nothing sinks it. Undulating, swooping bass lines, minimal percussion and
speckles of keyboard provide a compelling set-up in the verses before the
chorus serves up a firm melody. It’s pop
without the pretense and instead of placing its chips on above-average hooks that
bring pay-off in the chorus. Elsewhere,
“No Good for Me” features the most enticing vocal parts on the release while “Something
to Talk About” equally balances the rock format with FM radio accoutrements and
the beat-laden, digital dive of “Simpler Things” provides an atmosphere completely
appropriate for its closing status.
Though
the strength of the material leaves you wanting more songs and sometimes the
production needs a little more push, Julia McDonald has dropped an awesome
introductory record in Gravity. She is already receiving deals from major
television companies and getting her music played on radio stations across the country
illustrating just how kinetic and catchy this 19 year old’s songs are. Hopefully a full-length recording is on the
way because McDonald has proven that she is more than able to stretch her
songwriting to fit several different musical molds.
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