Search - Juli :: Es Ist Juli

Good debut; interesting alternative to Anglo-American rock

Tryavna | North Carolina | 01/08/2005

(4 out of 5 stars)

"My brother picked this up as a gift for me when he was in Vienna this winter. It was pretty much a blind buy -- though he did ask specifically for an album that "hip" Austrian twenty-somethings listen to these days. Since I haven't found a single English-language review of this album yet, I thought I'd take a chance and write what just may be the first.



First off, I have to admit that I don't know much about German rock right now. The German and Austrian reviews, which are largely positive, keep comparing Juli to the other two big-name German-language bands, Rosenstolz and Silbermond -- neither of which I've heard. They do sound a bit like two Scandinavian bands I know: Eskobar and Kent. So if you know and like any of those four bands, I assume that you'll like and know what to expect from Juli.



This quintet's lineup: female vocalist, two guitars, bass, and drums. Like a lot of debut albums, this one is pretty eclectic and variable in sound and quality. For my money, Juli are at their best when they sound like a weird mix of the minor-key pop of "No Need to Argue"-era Cranberries and the polite guitar/rude guitar rock of "Bends"-era Radiohead, as in Warum (track 1), Geile Zeit (3), Perfekte Welle (6), and Ich Verschwinde (11). I find they're less successful when they copy Dave Matthews (Regen und Meer, track 7) or No Doubt (Kurz vor der Sonne, track 10).



On the whole, this is a very promising debut. And it's a shame that bands like this (neither American nor British) have such a hard time reaching the wider audiences they deserve. As far as I'm concerned, this album's greatest value is that it offers a slightly different take on rock/pop than Americans like myself are exposed to. I can't recommend it for the price Amazon's offering it on import, but I highly recommend that Americans check it out if they're traveling in Europe any time soon."

Nice

StarlittenAntipathy | 05/04/2005

(3 out of 5 stars)

"Even if I, as a German, have problems to really value German bands,

this group is acceptable. I just want to say... Simple lyrics?

Who gives a damn. English pop lyrics are always simple, it is actually hard to write good German lyrics that are simple and catchy. I only want pledge out my veto that this sounds like Avril Lavigne or No Doubt on German, DEFINITELY NOT... the guitar work is way better, and the whole sound of the vocalist, is a lot deeper and more indie than Avril Lavigne... first of all German bands cannot be compared to any native bands, because mostly the affection the words is missing, as well as the whole passion.



But this group manages somehow to make an acceptable bridge.

SO IF YOU NEED(!) to really listen a German band (shame on you enough): check this out. The lyrics are neat and not simple or what.



"Geile Zeit" is one of the best German songs since Herbert Grönemeyer."

Juli-es ist Juli

StarlittenAntipathy | 01/28/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is a great CD especially if you are learning German and like music. It's easy to understand what they are saying, and It sounds a lot like Avril Lavigne in German"