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. ~ David Serra