Julie Doiron

Country of origin:

Canada

Type of music generally:

Folk-pop, indie slo-core, sadcore

Status:

Most recent release, Julie Doiron canta en español Vol. IV (2021)

See also:

Julie Doiron's site

Wikipedia's entry for Julie Doiron

Julie Doiron's MySpace page

Julie Doiron's Facebook page

The Ectophiles' Guide's page for Julie Doiron and The Wooden Stars

Julie Doiron was formerly in the band Eric's Trip.

Comparisons:

Garners comparisons to Cat Power, Edith Frost, and Low

Covers/own material:

Mostly own

General comments:

beautiful, spare and haunting are pretty much the right words. i often feel like i really shouldn't like her music--it's too nakedly emotional and so minimalistic that on extremely close inspection it almost seems to disappear--but, i dunno, she can strum one chord and whisper something that barely has a melody, and half the time i find it compelling even while rebelling against the compulsion.
     i think i like loneliest in the morning best. i also like julie doiron and the wooden stars a lot, but since she's working with another band, it's a bit more "rock" (although not rawk or anything). she used to be in an extremely different band called eric's trip in the early '90s. (dmw@mwmw.com)

Recommended first album:

Désormais or Heart and Crime if you like sad music. Woke Myself Up if you want something brighter. (JoAnn Whetsell)

Recordings:

• Broken Girl (as Broken Girl, 1996)
• Loneliest in the Morning (1997)
• Will You Still Love Me? (1999)
• Désormais (2001)
• Heart and Crime (2002)
• Goodnight Nobody (2004)
• Woke Myself Up (2007)
• I Can Wonder What You Did With Your Day (2009)
• So Many Days (2012)
• Julie Doiron canta en español Vol. II (2017)
• Julie Doiron canta en español Vol. III (2018)
• I Thought of You (You've Changed) (2021)
• Julie Doiron canta en español Vol. IV (2021)

Désormais

Release info:

2001—Jagjaguwar—JAG40

Availability:

Wide

Ecto priority:

Highly recommended

Group members:

Julie Doiron—guitar, classical guitar, bass, trumpet, vocals

Guest artists:

Dave Draves—organ, vibes, steel, samples, piano, tape delay, Wurlitzer piano
Jeremy Gara—drums, cymbals, snare
Josh Latour—bass, beats, samples

Produced by:

Dave Draves (all); Julie Doiron (1-4, 6, 7, 9); Josh Latour (5, 8, 10)

Comments:

A brief album, clocking in at just under 31 minutes. But in that time, the album explores lo-fi minimalist and sadcore music, orchestrated moments of loveliness ("Tu es malades"), even a little electronica ("Le piano," "Pour toujours"). It's a moody album, alternately haunting and charming. (JoAnn Whetsell)

Heart and Crime

Release info:

2002

Availability:

Wide

Ecto priority:

Highly recommended

Comments:

Melancholy, fragile songs. This is a relatively dark album, but lovely. (JoAnn Whetsell)

Goodnight Nobody

Release info:

2004—Jagjaguwar—JAG66

Availability:

Wide

Ecto priority:

Medium

Group members:

Julie Doiron—guitars, piano, cymbals, banjo, voice

Guest artists:

André Herman Düne—guitar, voice
David Herman Düne—guitar, bass, ukulele, voice
Neman—drums, percussion
Dave Draves—string samples, piano pedal, vibes, organ, other sounds

Comments:

This album is lighter in sound and feel than Heart and Crime, but not too light; it is still a Julie Doiron album after all. And a good one to start with for people new to her work. (JoAnn Whetsell)

Woke Myself Up

Release info:

2007—Jagjaguwar—JAG91

Availability:

Wide

Ecto priority:

Highly recommended

Group members:

Julie Doiron—vocals, guitar

Guest artists:

Rick White—bass, drums, guitar
Mark Gaudet—drums
Chris Thompson—guitar

Comments:

An odd little album, from cheerful pop to crunchy guitars. 11 songs covering a lot of territory in 30 minutes. When it's over, it seems like it flew by, yet somehow it feels just right. (JoAnn Whetsell)

I Can Wonder What You Did With Your Day

Release info:

2009—Jagjaguwar—JAG131

Availability:

Wide

Ecto priority:

Highly recommended

Group members:

Julie Doiron—vocals, guitar, drums

Guest artists:

Fred Squire—drums, guitar, toms, slide, percussion
Rick White—bass, drums, keys, percussion

Comments:

Another eclectic mix of quirky and charming songs similar to Woke Myself Up. I really enjoy Julie's move away from moroseness. (JoAnn Whetsell)

Further info:

Lost Wisdom is a 2008 album by Mount Eerie, with Julie Doiron and Fred Squire.

"On the Road Again" appeared on Subterranean Homesick Blues: A Tribute to Bob Dylan's Bringing It All Back Home (2010)

Thanks to JoAnn Whetsell for work on this entry.