Good Life

Richard Julian

Product Details

• Audio CD (January 1, 2002)
• Original Release Date: January 1, 2002
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: My Good Man Records
• ASIN: B000067DLV
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #113,392 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Track Listings

1. please rene, not now

2. miss you bad

3. she'll let you know

4. trick candle

5. good life

6. ragged point

7. amy

8. procession on 51st street

9. your friend john

10. the wrong bus

11. so damn beautiful

12. everything's cool

13. full moon face

14. back from the hamptons

15. florida

16. one slip away

17. good life - bonus track

Editorial Reviews

Randy Newman

'One of the best songwriters and record makers I've heard in a very long time.'

Product Description

'Good Life' is Julian's third, and most critically acclaimed release and shows him at his smart, spare best. This is, at heart, a New York record, complete with the sounds of missed busses, the clattering sounds of street processions, and the urgent truthfulness brought on by the increased pulse (and blood pressure) the city always engenders. It's alternately funny and disturbing, and solidly crafted. In keeping with Julian's unpredictability, this New York CD was recorded at the phenomenal producer Brad Jones' studio in Nashville with an A-list of the town's independent musicians. The resulting record is an impressive, mood-swinging collection of gripping songs and well-placed instrumentation.

Throughout, Julian's humor is never flippant and his seriousness is never self-important. He strikes a fine and admirable blanace

See all Editorial Reviews

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars It's a Good Life., July 25, 2002

By	M. Casarino (Wilmington, DE United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

If you're as tired of singer/songwriters as I am (and heck, I AM a singer/songwriter), you might be tempted to stay away from folky types like Richard Julian. But you'd be missing out on one of the most exciting LPs of the past year. Julian doesn't distinguish himself from the self-obsessed pack by doing anything too different - all the confessions you'd expect are here, all the self-deprication, all the barely-surfaced anger. It's just that Julian does them so well. His lyrics are personal but instantly recognizable and accessible. Sure, you might feel like you're listening to his diary, but dammit, you WANT to listen to his diary!

And then there's the music. Julian fuses his folk with jazz, bossa nova, and even a little funk, and his melodies soar. His voice is soft, warm - even this hetero male finds it sexy. It's the perfect instrument for his up-close-and-personal style.

And again, these are fantastic songs. All of them. Not a weak song in the set. He's not afraid of dark humor - "Florida" is a riot, even to Parrotheads, and the spoken-word "Your Friend John" is a highlight. But it's his soft touch with uncomfortable truths that makes the album so special - "Please Renee," "Wrong Bus," and especially the gorgeous "Amy" are all them more touching because they hit the heart of matters that we just don't talk about. And isn't that what a songwriter is for?

Check out "Good Life." This really is some of the best music I've heard in a long, long time.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars AMAZING TALENT!!!!!, February 9, 2003

By	P. D. Heizer (Hurst, Texas USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Well, this is why I spend a large part of my free time searching for and buying music from songwriters. Richard Julian came along through reading an article in a local newspaper. I am very impressed!!! He is part Billy Joel, Steve Earle, Darden Smith, Bruce Cockburn, and even David Wilcox or Freedy Johnston. A real storyteller in a good way. He manages to display different arrangements and subjects to keep things interesting indeed! PLEASE CHECK THIS ONE OUT....HE IS THE REAL THING!!!

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Frat Boy, Fat Boy, May 10, 2005

By	Lee Armstrong (Winterville, NC United States) - See all my reviews (TOP 100 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

After seeing Richard on the Norah Jones Live 2004 DVD, I decided to check out "The Good Life." This is another good outing for this creative singer. The title track party mix particularly is exuberant, a sonic banquet with Norah Jones as one of the background partygoers. "Everything's Cool" is another excellent track with Richard's voice cracking a bit until the chugging chorus blasts through. "Florida" is a Jimmy Buffet protest song, "14 nights just north of the Keys & the devil is breathing fire in me, Got the Dolphins game on the TV by the stage, A word to the wise for the table of 10, young frat boys become old fat men, it's a fact of life, I'm lost inside a jungle here, caught in the bundle of a promising career, only one more show till I get out of Florida." "The Good Life" is a good set, bursting with creativity and unpredictable left turns. It's well worth seeking out! Enjoy!