Random Order [Content/Copy-Protected CD]

Juliet | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (August 30, 2005)
• Original Release Date: 2005
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Content/Copy-Protected CD
• Label: Virgin Records Us
• ASIN: B0009UNA3U
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #241,391 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Juliet is a stunning 24 year old singer from Philadelphia and a total star, combining a unique voice and edgy lyrics with amazing presence and performance ability. Teaming up with celebrated electronic producer Stuart Price (aka Jacques Lu Cont/Les Rhythmes Digitales/Thin White Duke), Juliet has created a unique, alternative dance/electronic pop sound. The album includes the club hit 'Avalon' and the second single 'Ride The Pain'. 12 tracks. Virgin. 2005.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars 5 Stars is the Limit? Damn!, August 30, 2005

By 

Benjamin Norman "Trance Pants" (Washington DC) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Random Order (Audio CD)

This album is hands down the best purchase I have made so far this year.

Juliet Richardson, Philly-born and London-based, brings us a full-course meal in musical delight. From the hard, "dance my ass off" anthems like AU, Ride the Pain, and Would You Mind, to the trancy, slow, and beautiful Avalon, Waiting, and Untied, we are treated to so so much. And I am completely thankful.

The interesting thing about Juliet, is that she is completely able to sound like so many different artists. On some songs she purrs like Alison Goldfrapp, on others she croons like Tracey Thorn (Everything But The Girl), and on others yet, she growls and screams like ex-Lords of Acid frontwoman Darling Nikki. All layered overtop some of the best music I've heard in a long, long time.

Avalon, her first single, clocks in at just over 7 minutes, by far the longest song on the album. Somehow, I never notice that much time has passed while listening to it. Her vocals are entrancing, even if I fail to pay attention to the lyrics.

Ride the Pain is her second single, and it is heavy! Stomping guitars and dancefloor beats accompany her screaming voice perfectly, and the oh-so-naughty lyrics are absolutely captivating. "Ride the pain into the pleasure; don't stop now with the pressure". Sexy!

Never Land, her latest single, is an Andain-like guitar driven pop song. I haven't managed to digest it yet, but from what I can tell, this song will slay listeners. The music itself is beautiful, and as always, her voice is as well.

Other noteworthy tracks include the heavy AU, which features a housey bass guitar sound that almost sounds too grunge for the dance floor. She pulls it off gloriously. Don't feel bad if you find yourself listening to this song twice before even reaching the second song of the album.

Untied is one of the most amazing songs I have heard in a long time. Like Imogen Heap's Hide & Seek, it is elegantly simple. Juliet didn't choose the a capella route, though. She is accompanied by a simple synthetic plinking. It is easy to get lost in the song.

The thing that really attracts me the most to Juliet's music is her wonderful ability to build up to something more. Whether it be a hard rock dance beat, or to just get you more involved than you already are, she builds up like she has to save her life by it. You won't be disappointed.

Seriously, if you've heard the song Avalon and liked it, pick this up. If you don't know Juliet, pick this up even more. You WILL NOT be unsatisfied. It is pure perfection.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Beware! Copyright disc!, September 27, 2005

By 

H. Irsik (Winter Park, CO) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Random Order (Audio CD)

Great disk, but completely useless. This disk is copyrighted and I cannot put it on my IPOD. Just be warned...

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars "Random Order" Consistently Impresses, October 18, 2005

By 

C. Heath "Lyricweaver" (Seattle, WA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Random Order (Audio CD)

As a former member of a band called MNQNN, and former bouncy pop girl, you'd be surprised to hear that Juliet's solo debut is stylishly edgy and contains almost no girly fluffiness. 25 years old, Juliet writes her own music and runs the show. There's a sexiness about her: a mysterious quality that's endearing to men and intriguing to women. With a dark pixy haircut, tattoos, deep eyes and intense disposition, this woman is poised for stardom.

"Random Order" is simply brilliant: it's neither overproduced nor neglected. The general tone of the entire album is something along the lines of alternative electro-pop. Portions of it may remind some of Madonna's "Music" album. The difference between Madonna and Juliet however, is the stunning vocal tone Juliet possesses: her alto voice is thick and rich, slick and mature. She shows versatility, singing with gusto and brassiness in one song and then transitioning into a lovely soothing whisper for the next tune. Most of the tracks on "Random Order" settle easily into the dance category, though the few slower tunes are just as enjoyable as Juliet successfully takes a more sensitive approach. The entire album package is wonderfully designed. Looking at the song titles, one may notice that many of the letters have been substituted with numbers, hence the album title "Random Order". It's a catchy concept and extremely clever.

"AU": The opening track for the album begins with a distorted and harsh bass, quickly joined by Juliet's sneaky vocals. Right off the bat, it's obvious Juliet likes to use instrumental loops, but something about her style (something about her approach) makes her music easy to swallow and even easier to enjoy. As the second chorus begins, Juliet's vocals are layered on thick, singing with ferocity and intention. The lyrics are smart and fun. The drums toward the end of the tune are invigorating. Little subtle additions scattered throughout the song make it interesting and fresh: Juliet's vocals are occasionally warped, and other guitar sounds accompany her as she sings in the chorus. This is a fantastic opener, and sets the tone for the rest of "Random Order" extremely well. 5/5

"Avalon": The longest track on the album, "Avalon" is the track most fans rave about. It's the most well known song of Juliet's, and for good reason. Though it's repetitive, it's entirely haunting and sexy. A club favorite, I enjoy this song mostly for the ethereal vocals and rich chords in the background. Juliet layers instruments slowly, adding more percussion as the minutes go by and later, a piano melody. The progression of this song is so subtle one may not notice it until close to the very end of the track. The editing of this song is pure magic; it hypnotizes the listener. Gentle sweep sounds add to the already otherworldly feel. When I initially purchased "Random Order", this was my favorite track. 5/5

"Nu Taboo": Here's where we get a taste of Juliet's harsher side. There are elements in this song that remind me of classic 80's dance music, but I love it! The steady drumbeats and distorted electronic sounds are the perfect compliment to Juliet's bluntly honest lyrics. There's a catchy rhythm pattern in this song: I can't really describe it, but it adds a bit of uncertainty. Generally a slower song in tempo, it doesn't lack in intensity, and has a sexy vibe. I particularly enjoyed the distortion of Juliet's vocals. 5/5

"Ride The Pain": Already another fan favorite, Juliet's play on words in this song is fantastic. It's definitely a dance tune, with the now-familiar blend of steady drumbeats and distorted electronic blips and bleeps. However, Juliet has successfully taken this formula and added new elements to bring a fresh sound to the listeners' ears. Again, I was amazed that with so few instruments included, Juliet was able to make such a bold impression. Standout moments are the bridge portion, and the bass throughout the song is fun and very effective: the whole song is fun! This song could take on several meanings, but with lyrics like these, you decide: `rock the pain into the pleasure: don't stop now with the pressure.' 5/5

"Neverland": One might think that this is a ballad, but in fact this song is somewhere between a pounding dance track and relaxing summer song. Initially, I wasn't particularly impressed with it. But its subtleties are what hooked me. Again, Juliet has done a wonderful job piecing a song together. Her lyrics, as always, are enjoyable and intuitive. In fact, listening to this, it came to my attention that her lyrics are ingeniously honest: thoughts and things that happen all the time, but you never really think about. This makes her even more accessible to the average listener. 4/5

"Puppet": In comparison to "Nu Taboo", this song is much more rock than anything else on "Random Order". Sexy and harsh, I absolutely love this song. The percussion throughout is syncopated and addicting, and a playful harpsichord jumps up and down arpeggios. The execution of "Puppet" is impressive: every instrument is perfectly edited. Juliet's vocals are confident and brassy. Listening to this would make any woman feel sexy and bold, and make any man fall to his knees. It's repetitive, but extremely fun and empowering. 5/5

"On The Dancefloor": As the name suggests, this is a very danceable tune. Given the fact that it is so catchy and fun, it would probably make a great remix single. Juliet's lyrics never fail to impress and inspire. Particularly inviting are the warm backing chords throughout this song. Not meant to be a serious tune or emotionally moving, it's a very exciting and happy track nonetheless. The catchiness here is undeniable, and Juliet's vocals are incredibly infectious! 4/5

"Waiting": One of the few ballads on "Random Order", this track verifies that Juliet has plenty of soul and depth. She sounds almost entirely different in tone, and her soft vocals convey innocence and hurt. The guitar is thoughtful, and perfectly compliments Juliet's mood. This song would be right at home on a television show or in a movie: it has that enchanting and lucid quality, and is very relaxing. If you're in a bit of a dark mood, I wouldn't suggest listening to it, as it is very heartbreaking. However, it offers its own comfort and reassurance. 5/5

"New Shoes": In every way, this song impresses. When I first heard it, my initial reaction was simply `wow': it's subdued, mysterious, sexy, sparkly, dark and deep all at once. The delicate balance of the music box, guitars, wispy backing vocals and intense string arrangement (heard in the bridge) is gorgeous. Juliet's lyrics are extremely clever: `hold on to let go, play yes to say no'. Her pain and uncertainty are obvious here, and I love that she sings quietly and loud in the same track. This is easily the most dynamic and innovative song on "Random Order"; it switches gears many times. 5/5

"Would You Mind": Leaning more toward the dance genre again, "Would You Mind" gets its strength from all the subtle changes in sound and beat. Instruments are warped, slightly sped up or slowed down, and occasionally manipulated so much that they seem to disappear completely. The driving force instrumentally is the insanely catchy bass arrangement. Juliet's vocals are husky and dark, certain and confident. 5/5

"Untied": The last ballad to appear on the album, it reminds of something Bjork might do. There's no percussion. The only instruments heard under Juliet's quietly sung vocals are light electronic beeps and arpeggios. There's something entrancing and charming about this track, though it never really reaches an emotionally climactic moment. However, it is very well done and I applaud Juliet for daring to take such a risky stylistic route. One gets the feeling that Juliet is searching for something, but content that she can't find it. 4/5

"Pot of Gold": Slower and bit more subdued than previous tracks, the closing tune for "Random Order" is a nice conclusion. Singing soulfully, Juliet reassures the listener that she's doing ok on her own, and that she's `found her pot of gold'. Stylistically, this song doesn't move quite as much and retains a quiet and relaxing groove. I was never particularly impressed with this tune, though it's still done well and I sometimes find myself repeating it. Inspiring and sunny, this sounds like something you could listen to on a lazy day at the beach. 4/5

I bought this album out on a whim after I saw it on the rack. It's easily one of the best albums I've purchased in a long while, and I can never listen to it just once: I always repeat it a second time. As impressive as "Random Order" is, Juliet still has plenty of room to grow, and with her wide array of styles and abilities, she's sure to succeed. Even with a consistent style, this debut has a little something for everyone. Whether it's lounging music, thumping dance tracks, entrancing ambience atmospheres or slinky rock you seek, I can assure you that there is at least one song here you'll enjoy.