Anger thy color is Blood
Juliana Hatfield’s latest record is a testament to anger, disappointment, and disillusionment… and it’s one of her best yet.
I remember finding out about Juliana’s music through my love for Liz Phair. Back in my teens, I didn’t have iTunes or anything like that, and just found out about related artists through my Windows Media Players internet recommendations. I had no real idea of where to start with her music, so I went to my local used record store and picked out the first album of her’s that caught my eye. The only CD they had of hers was Bed. I bought it, took it home, and listened. I fell in love with her sound instantly. Juliana got her start in the band The Blake Babies in the late 80s. By 1992, she released her first solo album, Hey Babe. 1994 was her year, as she hit big with her song “My Sister”, which was heavily rotated on alternative radio. From there, she continued to do her own thing with her music. I saw her live in 2019 while she was touring in support for her tribute project, Juliana sings The Police. It was fantastic to see her play a faster tempo version of “Bottles and Flowers”, a personal favorite of mine. I have been following Juliana on Twitter and saw her announce the release of her latest album, Blood, earlier last month. Needless to say, I was excited to hear her latest project. After seeing several of my friends post their enjoyment with the album, I dropped all other music I had lined up to listen and give this record my undivided attention. So, was does Blood have to offer?
The album starts off with the track “The Shame of Love”. The track begins with Juliana’s unplugged electric, which explodes into crunchy thunderous beats and heavy electric guitar. This blends nicely into a more poppy sound, something Juliana does excellently. The song is about misfortunes in love. I absolutely love this track. Juliana had penned some great lines here, “Falling upstairs cussing my shoes, but its my instincts that I shot…”. Solid track. “Gorgon” is the second single released off this record. It’s got a light bouncy guitar riff played through the verses. This track introduces the addition of synth flutes and electric piano, which add a lushness. The song has a pop shine with a dark moody edge. She’s ready to vanish and rid herself all commitments here. “Nightmary” is clearly about the turmoil of the world, domestically and abroad, over the past 5 years. The track almost has a flowery feel like some 70s pop tracks, but with Juliana’s classic rock/alt twist. “Had a Dream” has these fuzzy beats and reverberating guitars that really turn this upbeat sound on its side. Juliana’s dream, it’s one in which she chooses violence. The opening lines “I had a dream last night and in my dream I had knife, I stuck the knife into your neck then I pulled it out and I stabbed you again…”. It’s all internalized rage and the hatred that that it builds. The chorus waves in, “It was a very American dream…” a pointed line towards America’s views on violence. The drums build to this crashing and crunching at the end, building this choas. It’s fantastic. “Splinter” is a softer track, with Juliana’s guitar playing more light and airy. Here, Juliana’s rather lost in the ills around her and trying force through the miasma of the social climate to make her way. It’s a short, but fulfilling track. Juliana’s songwriting is on a high so far, both lyrically and sonically. “Suck It Up” has a more rock groove to it. The continued angst at the world continues with track. Whether it be lack of growth, lack of acknowledgement, lack of praise, or lack of self fulfillment, Juliana’s ready to suck it up and move forward. “Chunks” was one of the first tracks I heard off this album. It starts with these shuffling chunky drumbeats. Juliana’s here to let you know that your bullshit is gonna cause someone to snap, and she’s not afraid to tell you how. “Someone’s gonna take your hand and break ever finger, shove a tube sock in your mouth to stop the sound from coming out…”. It’s all anger and malice packaged in Juliana’s nicely crafted pop-like wrappings. I absolutely love this track. “Mouth Full of Blood” was the first track she released ahead of the albums release. She really knocked this one out of the park. It’s pop, rock, and alternative. It’s radio ready, but totally true to Juliana. “I bite my tongue, my mouth’s full of blood”, is a fabulous hook. Juliana’s internal thoughts and tensions have her biting her tongue til she bleeds. I highly recommend you giving this track a listen. It’s a joy. “Dead Weight” shows Juliana at a low. She’s unsure why anyone wants anything to do with her. She’s dead weight and ready to crawl away into loneliness. The fade out at the last chorus with only Juliana’s vocals is beautiful. “Torture” is the final track on the album. These soft crunchy drums juxtapose against Juliana’s acoustic guitar very nicely. This track also highlights Juliana’s solo skills on the electric guitar.
This is one of the best albums Juliana has put out in years. It’s fresh and upbeat, but also filled with turmoil and angst. I have revisited this album 3 times today. It’s a testament to how much I liked it. The inclusion of crunchy beats, synth flutes, and other tones never tire throughout the album. My only wish is that it was longer. It was most definitely be one I hunt down on vinyl. The standout tracks:
- “The Shame of Love”
- “Had a Dream”
- “Chunks”
- “Mouthful of Blood”
- “Torture”
My overall rating: 8.5 out of 10 blood infusions.
Enjoy this read? Check out more in Modern Music Analysis with the link below — we can also be found on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter along with our official website! Also, be on the lookout for the latest MMA podcast episode on Spotify and Apple Podcast!
