Album Review: Julia Jacklin – Crushing (Liberation)

The Melbourne-based artist’s debut album, Don’t Let The Kids Win, made a case for Jacklin as a songwriter who deserves to be heard. Now, on her follow-up long player, she’s got something important to say.

Its interesting how the impact of an album can change thanks to seemingly unrelated events swirling around.

I’ve been listening to Crushing for a week or two now and was immediately taken by Jacklin’s delicate melodies, coupled with her forceful, take-charge lyrics.

On Head Alone, she stands up for herself in a relationship stating defiantly, “I don’t want to be touched all the time…I raised my body up to be my own”.  Its strong stuff, and most likely empowering for young women who may be intimidating into not speaking up for themselves.

Similarly, album opener Body finds the singer dealing with a break-up, both taking responsibility…(I’m not a good woman when you’re around” and addressing issues that no doubt many folks in this digital era face, ie, intimate photos shared…”would you use it to hurt me?”

While listening to these song, the whole Ryan Adams scandal broke. I was particularly struck by how some of the comments made by Adams’ ex-wife Mandy Moore, mirrored some of the themes among Jacklin’s 10 new songs.

Perspective is an interesting thing, and now that these experiences have been made public, Jacklin’s album seems even more relevant.

Nowhere does Julia come across as angry or vindictive, she is simply stating her case, standing up for herself.

On Pressure To Party, she pushes against being talked in to going out and being social when its too soon after a failed relationship for her, despite what her friend may think.

On Good Guy, she asks a casual friend, “Tell me I’m the love of your life, even if you don’t mean it.”

And on the dramatic Turn Me Down she sings, “I see a bright future, just not with you”.

The emotions are raw, the sentiments are not sugarcoated. But they feel real, rather than cruel.

Musically, the songs find Jacklin backed by a small band or just voice and guitar. The chord structure of Don’t Know How To Keep Loving You had me thinking of Nick Cave, and I could almost hear Warren Ellis’ violin come creaking in.

Jacklin’s voice is a thing of beauty, putting across her lyrics with gentle authority.

This is a gem of a record and Julia Jacklin’s self-empowering songs may be exactly what we need right now.

Someone send Ryan Adams a copy.

Marty Duda