Julie Roberts (CD - 2004)

Personnel: Julie Roberts (vocals); Bryan Sutton (acoustic guitar, mandocello); Brent Rowan (electric guitar); Tim Lauer (organ); Gordon Mote (keyboards); David Hungate (bass guitar); Shannon Forest (drums); Eric Darken (percussion); Delbert McClinton, Pat McLaughlin, Vince Gill, Wes Hightower (background vocals).

Julie Roberts's bio reads like a classic success story; while working as a secretary for a Mercury Records bigwig, the singer honed her craft at night, never letting her boss become aware of her show biz aspirations. That same boss ended up signing her to a lucrative record deal, and after listening to Roberts's self-titled debut, it's easy to see why. Possessing a voice that naturally exudes melancholy soul, the South Carolina native wisely chooses material to match, foregoing lighter Nashville fare in favor of more serious songs. Often sounding like a young Tanya Tucker, Roberts, along with her producer Brent Rowan, matches earthy topics with appropriately unadorned vocal performances and spare arrangements. Consequently, highlights such as "Wake Up Older" (a frank morning-after lament) and "The Chance" (an uplifting pledge to live the full life the narrator's mother was denied) resonate long after Julie Roberts's debut disc stops spinning. minimize