CD REVIEW: Juliana Hatfield "How to Walk Away"

If you only know Juliana Hatfield for her mid-90’s hit “My Sister”, or “Spin the Bottle” from REALITY BITES, or her appearance on MY SO-CALLED LIFE, you have been missing out.

Since that period, she has continued to be a very prolific singer / songwriter / performer (and even blogger), turning out an album or so a year. And, she has remained my favorite artist.

Her latest album is HOW TO WALK AWAY. She is releasing this through her own label, Ye Olde Records.

It is one of her best.

Like many artists, she has mellowed a bit since the loud and angry 1997 CD BED (which along with the still unreleased GOD’S FOOT are my favorite of hers). This is a quieter album, beautifully produced by Andy Chase of Ivy.



Standouts on the album are the first single “This Lonely Love” (which samples her own “It Should Have Been You” from IN EXILE DEO) and “Remember November” co written with her brother Jason Hatfield, a fine musician of his own.

But the song that may make it into the greatest songs she has ever recorded is “So Alone”. I could listen to this one on endless repeat for days, it is that good.

To say these songs are the standouts isn’t saying the other ones aren’t very good as well. The thing about Juliana’s music is that the songs stay with you. They aren’t just listen to once and then forget. There is no such thing as “filler” on one of her albums. I often find myself having a new favorite every time I listen to it.

Check back with me in a couple months. I’m sure I’ll still be listening to it and have new favorites.

The CD, releasing this Tuesday, is available at Amazon, iTunes, or from Juliana’s website. There, you can also order it with a 20 song limited edition CD of demos that is equally as good.

However you buy it, do pick this up. It is the CD of the year.