Album Review: julia stone by the horns

14 May 2012 | 5:33 pm | Benny Doyle

Stone’s tunes stand up on their own, and all it does is awkwardly break up two angelic odes in the way of Let’s Forget All The Things That We Say and It’s All Okay, the latter, with its underlying intensity and constant rhythms

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By The Horns is an apt title for this second solo effort from the sister sibling Stone. This is more than a successful musician using her current freedom to meddle with some extra ideas. These songs are crafted with care; the delivery full of conviction. The whole album sounds like Julia isn't simply comfortable in her own skin – she is revelling in it, stepping on to the centre stage without once looking over her shoulder.

Penned, refined and recorded in various locations around the globe, By The Horns is a strong and consistent record, but not without an odd track placement. Although The National's drummer Brett Devendorf does appear across the whole album, the inclusion of a Bloodbuzz Ohio cover seems strange so early, if at all. Stone's tunes stand up on their own, and all it does is awkwardly break up two angelic odes in the way of Let's Forget All The Things That We Say and It's All Okay, the latter, with its underlying intensity and constant rhythms, proving to be the highlight of the whole record. Justine and With The Light are other tracks that benefit from some more prominent Devendorf drumming, his respectful background patterns mixing with earthy guitars and some atmospheric synths to really create a suitable environment for Stone's reflective lyrical content.

With both Julia and her brother Angus venturing out on their own simultaneously, everyone has the chance to hear their creative heads in a separate space. What By The Horns shows is that Julia's is full of hope, curiosity and an achingly beautiful soul, which resonates clearly through every song here.