Julie Doiron - Goodnight Nobody (2004)

Julie Doiron continues with her delicate, melancholic songwriting on Goodnight Nobody, released by Jagjaguwar Records. As on most of her songs and albums, Doiron lets minimal instrumentation float and breathe against the deeply personal and intense observations of the lyrics. Fingerpicked and lightly strummed guitars with the occasional simple beat always work in Doiron's favor, showcasing her unique vocal phrasing that captures the perfect emotion in each song on Goodnight Nobody. Tracks like "Sorry Part III" and "Banjo" bring out a subtle country blues vibe, a rewarding area that Doiron has not explored too much in the past. Doiron shines on "Last Night," with its wavering guitar countermelodies; "No Money Makers" and "The Songwriter," with their heart-wrenching sense of longing and forced hope; and "Dance All Night," a reflection sounding a bit like Cat Power. While the majority of Goodnight Nobody was recorded in Paris with Herman Düne, the appearance of Wooden Stars' Dave Draves on samples, keyboards, and vibes on "Tonight Is No Night," "Dirty Feet," and "Dance All Night" gives a nice mix to the production. Also, the unique lo-fi recording style of Eric's Trip and Elevator Through's Rick White on "Banjo" is a pleasant surprise near the end of the record. While Goodnight Nobody is not a musical departure in her discography, it is an extremely solid and intimate release by the consistent Julie Doiron.