Friday, August 11, 2017

Julia McDonald - Gravity (2016)




Written by David Shouse, posted by blog admin

Keyboard-driven synth pop is the order of the day from singer/songwriter Julia McDonald.  The 19 year old sounds as good as any of the big leaguers on her debut EP, Gravity.  It’s evident from the rich textures and layered arrangements on the title track, that Julia is a force to be reckoned with.  Well-spaced keyboard twinkles, sparse acoustic guitar strum and McDonald’s quaking vibrato get things off to a captivating start, holding interest until the tune picks up with booming percussion and a deep well of cosmic keyboards that are spearheaded in by the singer’s dramatic rise in vocal volume.  Eventually, the tune settles on a swirling, mid-tempo pop number that’s exotic as it is infectious. 

The dance-y “Games” benefits from rapid fire, near rapped vocals that end up as an exciting stream of consciousness flow bouncing atop tropical drum beats and energetic guitar runs.  This song is a testament to Julia’s vocal ability, the strengths of her songwriting and the exciting working relationship she possesses with producer/co-writer Tavie Basarich.  A simple, pop-inflected chorus jets this piece into the stratosphere and renders it the catchiest track of the entire bunch.  “Pretty Committee” has a dipping, undulating r & b flavor cresting on a smooth groove beat and trippy bass lines while the lyrics attack the popular make-up crowd with hurried vocal melodies that have plenty of smarts. 

Piano opens “No Good for Me” as it layers more and more synthesizers onto the foundation with each passing measure of the verse until the chorus gives way in melodic key splashes and hearty soul vocals.  Another standout takes shape in the acoustic sweetness of “Something to talk about,” a more rock-leaned piece where the percussion stomps and the verse grooves shapeshift into an ethereal chorus.  Closer “Simpler Things” incorporates pure dub and electronica into the mix with the kind of pulse that would light up a rave in the wee hours of the morning as everyone gets ready to head home. 

Gravity is a charming, affecting EP from Julia McDonald that bullies pop into something greater thanks to its street smarts.  The songwriting utilizes bits and pieces of other genres for effect, while McDonald’s voice sound great whether working up an endless, rhyming flow or going to the heart of the lyric in a soulful croon.  If you’re tired of by the numbers sugar sweet pop, Julia McDonald’s music is an exciting discovery because it isn’t afraid to draw from multiple genres and thread them into an intricately woven fabric. 

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