Julie Gribble named on page 3 of American Idol Magazine as one of the "Best Emerging Artists of 2006"
American Idol Magazine (May 22, 2007)
ulie Gribble “Echoes In My Head“ (Independent, 2007)
I hear echoes.
I reviewed Gribble’s last album, ‘So Typical’ for this website back in 2005 and not only did I describe her as a “Posh Spice look-alike” but I summed the cd up as “a fine bunch of songs, a rich and melodic voice, a tight band and her own style, plus some excellent guitar riffs. But she doesn't have a record label. Eh? C'mon music moguls for christ's sake, get her signed. You're the ones missing out !”
It appears that she still doesn’t have a major record label, and again this is a mighty shame. ‘Echoes In My Head’ continues where ‘So Typical’ left off. There are echoes of that last album here, but that’s as far as it goes. More fine songs with rich melodies, hummable tunes, catchy choruses and some excellent lyrics. Americana in the truest sense of the word. Songs that can so easily translate into mainstream radio without losing any of the sense of worth that this genre offers. This isn’t pop pap, this is song-writing at its best with musicianship that provides a professionalism that some artists can never hope of achieving.
This isn’t a perfect album. But then again there aren’t many of those around are there. C’mon if you’re being honest you know it’s true. Some of the tracks are interchangeable and tend to blur into one another, but that isn’t the point. Hell no.
Gribble isn’t afraid of wearing her heart on her sleeve. “Damn me for letting you go, damn you for not letting me know” is the line that jumps out of ‘Damn Me’ and in one sentence it kinda sums up so many feelings and thoughts of regret and past loves and lives that we’ve all probably experienced at some stage. This is what Gribble is good at. She can capture the mood in such an easy and obvious way, but it’s not that easy is it? Of course it’s not. If it was we’d all be doing it wouldn’t we? That’s the mark of a good songwriter, making it all look and sound so easy without resorting to clichés and sentimental claptrap.
‘So Complicated’ again outlines the intricacies and feelings we navigate when we’re in a relationship. “It’s such a shame it all has to be so complicated”, how true is that? There she goes again, making the obvious so simple. There aren’t many writers who can condense complex emotions and feelings into one line.
She’s obviously a woman who has been hurt in the past (haven’t we all?) but this has given her writing an edge that determines reality and the way life really is. Tough sometimes. If only life was a Hollywood love story, with happy endings and running off into the sunset. But that isn’t reality. Whereas the songs on this cd are.
Date review added: Sunday, October 07, 2007
Reviewer: Phil Edwards
Reviewers Rating:
Phil Edwards - Americana UK Magazine (Sep 3, 2008)
ulie Gribble “Echoes In My Head“ (Independent, 2007)
I hear echoes.
I reviewed Gribble’s last album, ‘So Typical’ for this website back in 2005 and not only did I describe her as a “Posh Spice look-alike” but I summed the cd up as “a fine bunch of songs, a rich and melodic voice, a tight band and her own style, plus some excellent guitar riffs. But she doesn't have a record label. Eh? C'mon music moguls for christ's sake, get her signed. You're the ones missing out !”
It appears that she still doesn’t have a major record label, and again this is a mighty shame. ‘Echoes In My Head’ continues where ‘So Typical’ left off. There are echoes of that last album here, but that’s as far as it goes. More fine songs with rich melodies, hummable tunes, catchy choruses and some excellent lyrics. Americana in the truest sense of the word. Songs that can so easily translate into mainstream radio without losing any of the sense of worth that this genre offers. This isn’t pop pap, this is song-writing at its best with musicianship that provides a professionalism that some artists can never hope of achieving.
This isn’t a perfect album. But then again there aren’t many of those around are there. C’mon if you’re being honest you know it’s true. Some of the tracks are interchangeable and tend to blur into one another, but that isn’t the point. Hell no.
Gribble isn’t afraid of wearing her heart on her sleeve. “Damn me for letting you go, damn you for not letting me know” is the line that jumps out of ‘Damn Me’ and in one sentence it kinda sums up so many feelings and thoughts of regret and past loves and lives that we’ve all probably experienced at some stage. This is what Gribble is good at. She can capture the mood in such an easy and obvious way, but it’s not that easy is it? Of course it’s not. If it was we’d all be doing it wouldn’t we? That’s the mark of a good songwriter, making it all look and sound so easy without resorting to clichés and sentimental claptrap.
‘So Complicated’ again outlines the intricacies and feelings we navigate when we’re in a relationship. “It’s such a shame it all has to be so complicated”, how true is that? There she goes again, making the obvious so simple. There aren’t many writers who can condense complex emotions and feelings into one line.
She’s obviously a woman who has been hurt in the past (haven’t we all?) but this has given her writing an edge that determines reality and the way life really is. Tough sometimes. If only life was a Hollywood love story, with happy endings and running off into the sunset. But that isn’t reality. Whereas the songs on this cd are.
Date review added: Sunday, October 07, 2007
Reviewer: Phil Edwards
Reviewers Rating:
Phil Edwards - Americana UK Magazine (Sep 3, 2008)
Here are the facts
CD Titled “Echoes in my head"
I really had trouble getting through the entire CD. I kept rewinding and playing the
tracks several times over. The CD starts with This Feeling" and it will grab you
like a uniquely fashioned comforter, that grasp the contours of your minds and hold
you there..
“The Old Way” (first track on the cd) reminds me of early indigo girls. Need I say
more... this song rocks and the hand claps are cool.
I can hear influences vocal styling like Natalie Merchant, Indigo Girls, The
percussions throughout this CD are like early John Cougar Melloncamp..
The overall writing is crisp. The ballads are insightful!. The musicianship is
quality.
Do you remember the old Pringles ad campaign... "you can't eat just one.. Well you
just can't listen to one song on this CD.. it's just keeps getting better with each
track... Trust me.. check out "Just Jane"
“Echoes in my Head” is a follow up to "So Typical.” This is an awesome piece of work
also.
This CD feels like a brand new car, so don't just stand back and look at it..
Open the doors; get inside and go for a nice ride.....Oh and turn up the
sounds....Julie is playing on the DVD system.
Anthony Frazier, DJ - The Acoustic Hour Radio Show (Nov 14, 2006)
In speaking of her CD, "So Typical", Tabitha Blevins of the Goose Creek Gazette stated, "The First track "Little Bit Lonely" is the kind of song that transcends generations allowing both mothers and daughters to understand and appreciate its meaning..."
Tabitha Blevins - Goose Creek Gazette (Aug 17, 2006)
When speaking of Julie's live performance at Muzak Headquarters in SC..
"Personally, it was a busy week and that session was such
a great way to wind down the week and also keep things in perceptive. She was excellent!"
Steve Villa, CEO of Muzak (Aug, 2006)
Superstar in the making, July 4, 2006
On first listen one might think Julie Gribble was just another one of the myriad of artists on the acoustic underground writing their own music, releasing their own albums and quietly gaining an anonymous following, but there's a special quality here that gives Julie a lift over those artist who picked up a guitar and thought they could perform. With some performers who just happen to have their own guitar, engaging the listener by the ear AND the heart is simply an unknown dynamic. Not so with Julie, and she'll tell her audience that. "Hold on..., " she'll tell a room full of delighted people, "I've really got to feel the song to perform it." And she's right, in fact such an attitude would help serve many a young acoustic guitarist to connect with an audience in ways they can't begin to fathom. Julie DOES connect with you. There's no way you're going to listen to her sing and perform for you and yet walk away from it without having been engaged in her performance process. A large part of this is her incredible heartfelt and variant voice. She can be deep and mournful in one song and playful and naughty with a wink in her eye in the next and yet both are hugely convincing.
Since we're on the subject, she really CAN sing. I've felt for some time that an there are some famous artists who often perform better on other artists albums because of limited self vision, but Julie has no such problem. She knows what she can do to entertain you, and succeeds royally.
The other dynamic you'll really love is the originally creative song writing. She purposefully steers away from predictable verse and chorus and places just the right word or words in just the right spots to keep things interesting. She's quite the pro at this. Of course, Dan Lavery has writing credit here and I'd like to also give him his props... also for the production. It's one of those compilations of talent and timing that has produced an independent classic. The whole team that worked on this album should be congratulated, they have all correctly understood the vision and pulled it off winningly.
I highly recommend the deep and moody "Just Stay Here" if you like catchy heartfelt songs in minor keys with some innovative construction that hits the target. "Simple Grace" is more the poetry song but has a nice touch with a base string line. "Bartender Please" is a great drinking song and "Little Bit Lonely", and "So Obvious" are great mid-tempo rockers. Well, I could go on and on, but the album is a real find by an artist who is gonna break out nationally at any time, and from there the sky is the only limit. Get YOUR COPY today!!!!
Jack LaFrance "rocawayman" - Amazon.com (Aug 17, 2006)
Musical guest Julie Gribble sang "Little Bit Lonely", a beautiful song that was perfectly in tune with tonight's show. Clear, potent lyrics combined with a captivating melody.
This was a fitting end to an interesting day. Thank you, Craig, for always hitting the right note.
When speaking of Julie's performance on the Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson - Blogcritics Magazine (Oct 15, 2005)