CD Review: Daniel, Fred & Julie [You've Changed Records, 2009]

Nov
18
2009

CD Review: Daniel, Fred & Julie [You've Changed Records, 2009]

What’s the deal with collaborations? In recent months there has been Monsters Of Folk, NOVELS and now Daniel, Fred & Julie. This most recent addition includes some heavy hitters from the east coast. The Daniel part is Daniel Romano who sings and plays guitar in Attack in Black. Fred is Fred Squire who sang and played guitar in legendary indie-rock group Shotgun and Jaybird, and the Julie is none other than Julie Doiron, as in the legendary songwriter, singer, guitar shredder and member of Eric’s Trip.

This album was recorded this past summer in Sackville, NB. It is a collection of public domain folk standards, with some originals thrown into the mix. A tape machine was set up in Fred’s garage with a microphone placed on the floor in front of a semi-circle of folding chairs. Dan and Fred played guitars with all three singing together. The songs were put down quickly, with no overdubs or edits, and the record was finished in a couple of days.

My interest in Daniel, Fred & Julie first got peaked by the involvement of Daniel Romano. This past year I have become a big fan of Attack In Black and need more. AIB must be one of Canada’s must under rated bands. These guys from Welland, Ontario, simply put, write good songs that can stand on their own. I first fell in love after hearing Leaving Your Death In A Flowerbed. CBC is streaming a lot of their songs, so check them out. Daniel and the rest of Attack In Black are opening for the Constantines here in Toronto on December 11th at Lee’s.

I also love Julie Doiron. Now that Quebec owns NB Power, it is only a matter of time before NB, NS, and PEI get amalgamated and become known as New Quebec. When this happens, Julie Doiron will be voted in as the new super provinces’ first premier. Even my parents know who Julie Doiron is. The Provincial Anthem for New Quebec will be, of course, Viewmaster, and Danny Williams’ head will explode. I’m just saying.

The first release from Daniel, Fred & Julie is an original by Daniel, Runner, a song about the eternal doomed rambling of a man, sung here spookily and powerfully by Fred. My favourite song would have to be Bonnie Black Bess which boasts some hard strumming and sweet harmonies.

If you like folk music and eating ribs at the Dakota Tavern, then you will probably dig this album. For me, I’m not the biggest folk fan, but listening to the album, I can appreciate and love hearing the simplicity and uniqueness of this garage recording.

Daniel, Fred and Julie is available on LP and CD and for Digital download. The record in all formats is proudly Mono. For a track by track look at this album, HeroHill has a great article.