I Didn't Write These

... but she did. Much like a certain muffin-headed pony-tailed muchacha, I received my pre-order of Julia Nunes's newest album, "I Wrote These," recently (and for those who are interested, you can order it here). On said album is contained nothing short of audiological awesomeness. This latest release by Nunes is all original work, and includes several of her YouTube most popular songs. Here's a track list, and my short reactions to each song:

1. Maybe I Will - she played this at the Knitting Factory concert I went to a while back. It's pretty catchy, and features Nunes's characteristic multi-tracking of her own voice.
2. Into the Sunshine - the song that put her on the proverbial "map," it now features a some drums and bass addition. I've heard it bunches, but it's still good.
3. First Impressions - one of Julia's ukelele originals, little depressing but I still listen to it over and over.
4. Binoculars - another one that I heard at the Knitting Factory, kinda stalkerish but definitely fun. I can almost dance to it.
5. Pen to Paper - this song was the most fun song from the Knitting Factory, and I love it. At the peak of each guitar riff, the audience would do a 'stomp clap' thing for two beats and it was friggen awesome. This song rocks my socks.
6. Short and Sweet - true to its name, this song is like 2 minutes or less. You can sense Julia's anger.
7. Welcome Vacation - when this song goes into its reprise, it leads off with Julia doing this 'ba ba baaaaaaa' thing that I want to cut down and use as an intro on a presentation or something. Very good song, probably one of my favorites on the album.
8. You Were - I don't think I had ever heard this one before, but I likey. Hard to describe what it is I like about it, but I do.
9. Stairwell - this song is great, but so very depressing if you listen close to the lyrics. If I could remember the one lyric toward the end that really gets me, I'd post it, but at the moment I don't. EDIT: the lyric in question: "Well I can't lie / Perhaps I didn't trip / I've been having troubles lately / And I've got something to admit / See I was standing at the top / Just thinking about the Earth / It's been so hard to keep on living / So I thought it might be worth it..."
10. Regrets - FINALLY HAVE IT AS AN MP3! This is the one I had been waiting for ever-so-patiently (not really, I messaged Julia at least twice on YouTube asking if it'd be on this CD). My favorite Nunes original, she sings this one with such emotion - bottled up frustration/anger with a touch of sadness. As an added bonus, it's got a great bass riff in the CD version that you don't get on YouTube. The only drawback is the delivery has softened from the YouTube version as well. But, beggars can't be choosers, eh?
11. Odd - I'm going to be perfectly honest. I don't really like this song very much. But, many do. It's one of her uke songs.
12. Sugar Coats - a collab effort with another guitarist from Julia's general geographical area (name escapes me, left the CD case at home... Kirk? Kirk Stevens? Yea I'll go with that), this one has a very different tone than the rest of the CD. It sort of sticks out. Not that I'm saying it's bad! I like the song, it just doesn't blend with the other tracks.
13. Roles Reversed - heard this one live at Knitting Factory, where Julia told a little of the story behind it. I love this song, easily my second favorite Julia original. Also, it's slightly better recorded rather than live because of the multi-tracking.
14. The Debt - creative pseudo-beatboxing in the background makes this one very unique. Plus, the last line of the song sort of sticks with you.

I really liked Julia's first album, "Left Right Wrong," and this one is as good if not surpasses the first one in likeability. Some may say that Julia alone with her guitar/ukelele is the way to go, but I disagree - I love a good bass riff, and unless she grows extra appendages, there's no way that would work. As long as Julia keeps belting out her songs with charged emotion and feeling, and the accompaniment doesn't overpower her voice/guitar, I say include 'em.