Customer Reviews

Juliana's Pony: Total System Failure

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

From the opening track Juliana makes her point clear - she wants to assault your senses with noise. But to dismiss this album based on first impressions is to perhaps to miss the point. It can grow on you. I bought both this and Beautiful Creature at the same time, and proceeded to play the other album more. But slowly JP:TSF has started growing on me. Firstly, lyrically this album is really clever. Let's Get Married features great examples the typically laconic wit that's embedded throughout: "Torture the bridesmaids, make them wear lime green... Lie to the pastor, promise 'forever'... If you change your sweatpants I'll shave my legs..." Secondly, there's some good musical innovation and inventiveness here and there; belting changes in beat, edgy chord progressions, solid bass riffs and so forth. Unfortunately for those who prefer the little-girl-lost style Juliana, and for those still uninitiated to her brand of songwriting, these subtleties will be ignored as it's easy to be driven to distraction by the unsubtlety of all that distortion and those big fat riffy basslines. There's definitely a certain rawness laced throughout most songs, eg: "Metal Fume Fever" which reminds me a little of Nirvana's "Bleach" for displaced rawness. Despite initially preferring the softer edge of Beautiful Creature, I personally don't mind such harder-edged stuff, I've acquired the taste for Juliana's rugged sound; many others won't. Sure, it could wear your ears down if you don't develop the taste for it. Perhaps if there were more of a sprinkling of softer songs in between then some of the other reviewers here may have been kinder? I guess that's one of pitfalls of her dual album 'experiment', isolating all her heavier stuff on to this one album, making it potentially monotonous for some listeners. I say let this album grow on you, and reserve your final judgement of it until after you've seen her play it live (it should sound great live).

I'll start by admitting that I have been a Juliana fan since her Blake Babies days. That said, I've read a variety of reviews on this disc and have to chime in with my two cents to say that IMO, it is a pretty darn good album. It took me awhile to get my head around it because it is quite a departure, but it really grows on you. I have always liked the harder side of Juliana (when she rocks-it-up in a song), particularly because she has a such a great songwriting knack of weaving good riffs into material primarily comprised of lighter musical fare (which provided the riffs with extra impact, of course). Total System Failure is different because the whole thing is pretty much a full bore barrage of guitars. But as I analyzed why I liked it so much, I came to the conclusion that a big part of it was due to the fact that Juliana's staple sarcasm and wit come through loud and clear on this one. She takes direct aim at middle America and cuts it in two in such as way that is vintage Juliana. I prefer this one over Beautiful Creature (which is also good, but not as energetic that's for sure).

contrary to what other reveiwers have written, this is an excellent, inspired, well written, purposely sloppy album. its raw, sarcatic, dark and poppy, with toooo many undertones and hidden meanings to mentions. if juliana ever wrote a song with line of "i *something* you" it would have to be "i forgive you". she hates and... well hates, (cant say she loves that would just be lying) and it shows. its emotional and beautiful, angry and light filled. this album is excellent.

While it's rougher and in ways simpler (emotionally) than her previous records, this alternate side of Juliana Hatfield (compared to Beautiful Creature) is witty and sly. Hatfield has more sense of humour here than most rockers and isn't afraid of torn edges or shredded ears. Pare it down, and this album is still as melodic as Only Everything and Bed, only with a different format: a mission statement that includes "a solo per song" and superb continuity through "limitations" in the effects department. Get it now!

Maybe 5 stars is one too many, but that's all a matter of opinion. Juliana Hatfield is an awesome artist who writes and plays her own music, and this hard rocking disc will shock those who are only familiar with "Beautiful Creature". I've been a fan for years, and would say the only drawback to this CD would be a few songs being "too similar"?? It does rock, though and is worthy of purchase, definitely

I've been a casual fan of Juliana's since her Blake Babies days, but have never been moved to purchase an album of hers before. I heard "My Protégée" once on the radio and thought it was new Veruca Salt. The announcer said it was new Juliana Hatfield and I was hopeful - I wondered if the rest of the album would be as good. Not brave enough to try the boxed set, I decided to try "TSF," after checking out the reviews and snippets of tracks for "Total System Failure" and "Beautiful Creature" even though reviews for "TSF" were not as positive. I am glad I was not scared off by the "joke" review, or the "what happend?" review. This is a great album. "Houseboy," " Leather Pants" and "Ten Foot Pole" in particular are sheer bliss. I'm not going to over-analyze. It rocks. Enjoy.

This is the Juliana Hatfield album that lives in my car. The guitar is crunchy, the vocals compelling, the lyrics brilliantly sarcastic. The tracks Houseboy, Let's Get Married, and Breeders stand out for their suburban dystopia, while Leather Pants is hilarious. Juliana's best song ever, Ten Foot Pole, ends the album with an extremely personal look at desire and self-image. This is not my favorite Juliana Hatfield album (that honor belongs to Please Do Not Disturb), nor is it her prettiest (listen to Beautiful Creature for that), but it is the album I play most often.

Great guitar solos... Lyrics filled with bile, sarcasm, sickness, & humor... An amazing counterbalance to Beautiful Creature's introspective vibe... this CD is meant to be played LOUD! Beautiful Creature may sound more personal but Total System Failure will surprise you with its skewed viewpoint... This CD jams!!!

You can get this album in a box set with another album "Beautiful Creature" which is a vintage Juliana album. However, I picked up just "J's Pony" after listening to both of them in a Virgin Megastore. "Pony" has some hyper angry/ironic energy. I've heard complaints that this album is too bitter and dark. I disagree. I think it's funny. This is clearly a concept album. It's almost like she's taken on a new persona. It's true that this sounds a little bit like Veruca Salt, but only by coincidence. Veruca is derivative trash... Juliana's is more of an homage/exploration. I think Juliana is reaching a little further back. The riffs sound like something off the greatest hits of Mountain (Mississippi Queen). The high octane 70s riffs are fresh, and the lyrics may bite a little too sharply, but I think J's tongue is firmly planted in her cheek. I think she's looking for you to laugh with her as she takes jabs at the ugly things she sees in around her. Has she ever asked her listeners to take her seriously? I don't think so. This is the best I've heard from her since her Blake's Babies days. The pride of Duxbury, MA has delivered. I may pick up Beautiful Creature eventually, but ultimately, this one is more interesting.

This is an album without much variety - dangerous, but in this case, absolutely successful! 40 minutes of social anger - simple riff based songs, rock trio, no place for melodic beauty here. That's fine, it can be found elsewhere. This is her most cohesive statement ever recorded!