On her sophomore solo disc, Canadian songstress Julie Doiron comes out swinging — not with fists, but from a porch swing on a Sunday morning. Formerly of disbanded pseudo-psychedelic popsters Eric’s Trip, Doiron previously had released an album on her own label, Sappy, under the moniker of Broken Girl. She has now dropped that tag and reveals herself as what she has probably been for some time: a young mother and wife, bored at home, lonely on the road, guilty for not being enough but needing more, sometimes a little sad, a self-described sapster.
Doiron’s approach is diaristic, airing foibles and fears yet not freaking out. She wants to be a good mother but doesn’t know if she is; she misses her old band and can’t believe it’s over; she’s crying right alongside the baby and apologizing more than she ought to. She’s every girl growing into every woman.
Her sweetly plaintive voice serves her simple slice-of-life songs well, drifting through piano and guitar based melodies. Doiron evokes a younger, less bluesy Edith Frost with an old, grounded soul. She would do well to develop a darker expressiveness akin to Chan Marshall of Catpower. Not that she doesn’t do pretty damned well already — and with the forces of Grifter Dave Shouse, Giant Sand’s Howe Gelb and Doug Easley behind her, Loneliest In The Morning is a lovely listen.
“Sorry I” fills out handsomely with distant floaty pedal steel; “Sorry II” benefits from uplifted tempo and a grittier feel. “Love To Annoy”, a moody grace for marriage (“I love to be/Annoyed by you/No one else/Can annoy me like you do”) features some nicely distorted Grifterish backing vocals. Musical chops all around and forthright delivery prevent this decidedly unbroken girl from cloyishness.
A bit of a sleeper record, Loneliest In The Morning takes more than a couple spins before her quiet, unobtrusive songwriting begins to sink in. Unlike many of her peers, Doiron moves beyond anger, mania and/or despondency. Instead, she’s finding her own voice, breathing deeply through a life she holds dear: changing diapers, making music, loving a partner, missing friends, making her mark. Especially in the mornings.
