How to Walk Away

Juliana Hatfield | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (August 19, 2008)
• Original Release Date: 2008
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Ye Olde Records
• ASIN: B001BRZ556
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (22 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #108,111 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Juliana Hatfield, no less an intriguing, compelling character today, has been working as a recording artist for twenty years. With the release of ''How To Walk Away,'' her 10th solo album, she again proves herself to be an uncompromising artist with impeccable pop instincts, a disdain for artifice, a completely original voice, and a contrarian streak. ''How To Walk Away'' was produced by Andy Chase (of Ivy) at Stratosphere Sound in NYC and features guests Richard Butler (Psychedelic Furs) and Matthew Caws (Nada Surf) on vocals, Jody Porter (Fountains Of Wayne) on guitar, Tracy Bonham on violin, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

20 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars 4 1/2 stars-- beauty in melancholy., August 22, 2008

By 

Michael Stack (North Chelmsford, MA USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: How to Walk Away (Audio CD)

"How To Walk Away" was an album that I actually wanted to dislike immensely-- Juliana Hatfield, a personal favorite of mine, was recording an album with producer Andy Chase (of the band Ivy). In interviews, Chase had what I quite honestly took quite a derisive tone with Hatfield's music, referring to it as stuck in the past and how he was dragging her into the modern world. This combined with what I heard from the album really quite solidified my opinion-- Hatfield's guitar was no longer at the fore of her music, it was like Chase was trying to turn her into, well, Ivy. So I spun the disc, first few listens solidified my opinion. But then, something clicked.

Turns out, "How To Walk Away" is a pretty good record.

Hatfield, always someone capable of draping emotion right in front of a microphone, has an album where her vocal delivery is pretty much at the fore. The press makes a big buzz about this being a breakup record, an assertion I'd support, and Hatfield sings plaintively not so much of broken romance or loss, but rather of melancholy and disappointment, pieces like opener "The Fact Remains" and "My Baby..." aren't angry or resentful or disappointed, they're honest and painful. Throughout, Hatfield's vocal supported by driving acoustic guitars, bouncing synthesizers and burbling lead guitars. Truthfully, it sounds less like a "modern" production and more like something out the '70s (and quite reminds me of Aimee Mann's The Forgotten Arm in that regard).

But of all the things I could say about it, the best compliment I could offer is that the record stirred up memories for me, it reminded me of myself, and if Hatfield can pull off that level of personal connection, that's really quite something. It also doesn't hurt that there's a couple cuts I could play over and over again-- I mean, the quiet subtlety of "Such a Beautiful Girl" with its just staggering harmonies on the chorus just floored me. And slicing through the low key vibe and melancholy of the album straight in the middle, "Just Lust" is wrapped in swagger and attitude with and angular guitar line that could have come off a mid-80s Cult album and an emotionless delivery from Hatfield that'll knock you over.

Having said all this, the album does suffer from almost a sameness of production-- "The Fact Remains" kicks you in the face with its subtlety awash in acoustic guitar and subtle synthesizers, but the next piece, "Shining On", pretty much tries to do the same thing, albeit with an emphasis on strings. It's not that there's a band song there, but the impact of the latter is lessened by the former. Nonetheless, this is a great album-- it's not quite alongside the best of Hatfield's work, but it's awfully good. Highly recommended.

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Walking Instead of Running, August 21, 2008

By 

Jack McCoy (Ft. Worth, Tx United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: How to Walk Away (MP3 Download)

Juliana Hatfield's latest album 'How to Walk Away' mostly deals with bad occurances, but without brash lyrics and pissed-off overtones. It's like, when you're closer to middle age and something happens that, when you were younger, would have caused a burst of outloud anger and obvious resentment. Instead, you just chalk it down to 'whatever' and/or 'I don't have time for this' and simply walk away. The simplest of things is all that's really required. To me, her music in this album portrays that maturity. Of course it's Juliana Hatfield, so the writing is top-notch and some songs radio perfect.

Highly recommended

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Absolutely stunning, August 28, 2008

By 

Dr Satan (Scotland, UK) - See all my reviews

This review is from: How to Walk Away (Audio CD)

With 'How To Walk Away', Juliana Hatfield has undoubtedly found her voice and sound, and this is easily the best work of her 20 year career. Haunting, melancholic, startlingly honest but at times beautiful, this is an album of pure, polished music which could also be deemed as an anguished plea for understanding.

Hatfield has been virtually ignored as an artist for far too long in my opinion, and I sincerely hope this album puts her on the map. It's uplifting, beautiful and just so accomplished.

If this is your introduction to Juliana, then you are in for a treat.