Men & Mascara

Julie Roberts | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (June 27, 2006)
• Original Release Date: 2006
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Mercury Nashville
• ASIN: B000FDFPJI
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (47 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #70,456 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

There's no sophomore slump here for Julie Roberts, whose second release is, if anything, richer and more powerful than her well-received debut. Credit the uniformly strong material, with not a throwaway among the eleven tracks, and four of the songs cowritten by Roberts. There's not a happy song among them, either, except for the nostalgic "Too Damn Young," about when love was fresh in a teenage way that it will never be again on the rest of the older-and-wiser material. The opening "Paint and Pillows" tells of a wife wronged by a cheating husband, and a hurt that can't be masked by window dressing. "First to Never Know" and "Lonely Alone" find a woman on the run from a relationship gone cold, while "A Bridge That's Burning" sings of the refusal to become the other woman. Best of all is the title track, through which the bittersweet voice of experience warns that "men and mascara always run." Though Roberts has the glamour-girl look of a Faith Hill, the Southern bluesiness of her vocal phrasing is closer to Lucinda Williams, and the fiddle and steel guitar that dominate Byron Gallimore's production show country music making few concessions to pop. --Don McLeese

No Depression - July/August Issue

Roberts is capable of something more, making her the rareset of Nashville creatures, artist who's more interesting than she seems.

She's as great as ever, the possessor of a solid South Carolina twang fused with a soulful, smoky, heartfelt delivery.

...vocals that give perfect twang and carry lots of power...elevating genre cliche into art again and again.

See all Editorial Reviews

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wow, Wow, Wow, July 1, 2006

By 

Charles B. Miller (Atlanta, GA USA) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Men & Mascara (Audio CD)

I liked Julie's debut album, but her new album is LEAPS & BOUNDS better. This album is amazing. Julie has matured as an artist and singer. She knows what works for her emotional alto voice and delivers these new songs with passion, strength, and sadness. Buy this album...you'll be glad you did.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Flawless, July 14, 2006

By 

Tom (The Woodlands, Texas United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Men & Mascara (Audio CD)

First of all, let my start by saying I am a huge Faith Hill fan. She is an astounding vocalist, energizing performer, and passionate musician. This business with her being "unable to pick good songs" and "connect with her music" is absolute baloney. Having seen her live multiple times, I can assure you that Hill performs with stellar vocals that soar to sky and a passion and conviction that are almost tangible, especially on GREAT songs like 'Cry' and 'Breathe'. Hill is a wonderful artist, and Julie Roberts should be greatly flattered by such comparisons.

And it seems that the comparisons are just. Julie returns with her sophomore effort with even greater material. Each song is oozing with emotion and Roberts delivers consistantly. As the reviewer says, there isn't a single skip-worthy track on the disc. Julie captures and enraptures the listener from the first track, the lively "I ain't gonna take it anymore" anthem 'Paint and Pillows' to the more somber and subdued finale 'All I Want is You'. In a sense, the album is a cathartic discovery of a woman's self in love and loss, and, as the reviewer also said, be prepared for some heavy, oft-times unhappy material. In fact, most of the songs included on the album are lacking in the happy ending department. But it works out so well, because Julie utilizes her admirable instrument of voice to tap into the feeling and mood of the lyrics she's singing and really connect with her audience. She does so triumphantly, and beneath the surface of sad songs there is a faint glimmer of hope, which Julie exposes with her sultry, gritty alto. As should also be noted, Roberts' vocals have, in fact, grown since her debut. She exercises a great dear more range, especially on songs like the title track, "That Ain't a Crime", and "Mama Don't Cry". She proves that, in addition to her commendable songwriting skills, Julie has an undeniable pair of pipes. This girl can blow.

Highly recommended!

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars NO SOPHOMORE SLUMP HERE!!!!!!, June 27, 2006

By 

Arthur Welborn (Coos Bay, OR USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Men & Mascara (Audio CD)

I really like Julie Roberts first album. I must say her latest album is even better than the first!!!! On her second album, Julie's voice seems more confident and mature. If radio would play her more, any of these songs can become a hit. They are all that good! I really enjoy her remake of Girl Next Door. That one is sure to be a hit!!! If you like the more traditional sound of country, pick up this album. You will not be disappointed. Hopefully this album catapults Julie to the next level in her career! My picks are: Paint and Pillows, Too Damn Young, First to Never Know, Men and Mascara, Girl Next Door! Thank you for an awesome album Julie!!!!