Julie Slonecki

Add Date: November 24

Artist: Julie Slonecki

Album: Borders

Label: Self-released

Genre: Folk, folk-rock

Comments: [Disclaimer: There's a definite conflict of interest in me reviewing our very own Julie Slonecki's latest record Borders: we're good friends and she's in my band, which occasionally performs some of these songs. Still, I'll write this review, partly to advocate the work of Rockbridge-area musicians like Jules, and partly because I'm jealous of it.]

Borders is the latest release from Washington and Lee's (and WLUR's) very own Julie Slonecki, a junior from South Carolina double-majoring in music and psychology. She deftly showcases her knack for the former on this record, which she produced all by her lonesome this summer (with the help of an occasional few other musicians, of course). Julie has fully imbibed folk songstresses like Jenny Lewis and Neko Case and, while she wears these influences proudly on Borders, she has a style of her own. Delicate acoustic arrangements mix with fine keyboard work and Julie's fantastic voice to create a nice collection of tunes. My favorites are "Untitled," "Intermittent," and the title track.

And don't forget to listen to her show, "Magic Happy Mountain," on Friday evenings from 6 to 7 p.m. on everyone's favorite local radio station.