Peel unleashed her debut full-length album on American Laundromat Records (ALR) in September 2009 and has been enjoying rave reviews and charting at college & specialty radio. Previously featured on ALR compilations including Just Like Heaven (a tribute to the Cure), Gigantic (a tribute to Kim Deal), Dig for Fire (a tribute to the Pixies), and Cinnamon Girl (a tribute to Neil Young), this is Julie’s first solo full-length release. She counts Aimee Mann, Kim Deal, Neil Young and Joni Mitchell among her influences, and their impact is not hard to discern on Near the Sun. Peel’s lo-fi, guitar-driven pop recalls the likes of Ida, Anna Ternheim, Caithlin de Marrais, and Mirah, but bears her own distinctive indie sensibility and style.
Born in Cannes, Peel was raised between France and Canada, and sings entirely in English on this album. As a child, she tended toward self-determination. “At 6,” she explains, “I would take my bike and go for long rides in the countryside... Sometimes I would go fishing by myself.” Though her mother worried, Julie always came home “like it’s normal a 6 year old kid would go out all day so far away.” That independent spirit is evident throughout Near the Sun, which Julie recorded, mixed, and produced on her own. She plays most of the instruments as well, though she is also joined on bass, cello, and upright bass by Cyrille Catois (who she met in 2005 and has worked with consistently ever since) and on drums by Andreas Dahlbäck (drummer and producer for Anna Ternheim).
Spontaneity was key in the creation of this album, as evidenced by tracks such as ‘Innocence.’ “I composed it and wrote the lyrics in under an hour, and recorded it very quickly right after,” she reveals. “... I guess this song is what represents me the most.” The swell of the cello under her honest, melancholy lyrics turn this stand-out track from simple to understatedly sophisticated. “Most of the tracks were first takes,” Julie notes, which manifests itself in a sense of both immediacy and intimacy throughout the album. The undeniably catchy track ‘Living in a Movie,’ replete with irresistible handclaps, seems sent straight from the soundtrack to a film by Michel Gondry or Sofia Coppola. A sweet and somehow cinematic tune that demonstrates Julie’s capability to craft pop songs at once familiar and dream-like, deceptively minimal, ‘Living in a Movie’ is just one of the songs off Near the Sun that compels repeated listens. Though her contributions to the ALR compilations were noteworthy in their own right, this collection of original material bears testimony to Peel’s own dynamic pop sensibilities.
Sister
Julie Peel Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I don't have the time to listen to your old stories
Sister, the life you live would worth the trip,
if you'd stop complaining about all the things you didn't get yet
Sister, my home was your home when you needed it
I don't want it back, but have the decency to at least remember it
Sister, you're breaking the stairs under my feet,
No one's gonna care if you're wearing your expensive clothes
You're so shallow
No one gives a damn when you're trying hard to strike a pose
And it is so right
You're so vain, you're so vain like Carly's vain.
The song "Sister" by Julie Peel is a poignant commentary on the relationship between two sisters. The lyrics suggest that the singer's sister is struggling with some issues in life and is constantly complaining about the things she hasn't yet achieved. The singer, however, is unable to listen to her sister's stories and feels like she doesn't have the time for it. The first verse suggests that the sister's attitude is self-defeating, and that she could have a more fulfilling life if she stopped obsessing over what she doesn't have.
The second verse of the song seems to suggest that the singer's relationship with her sister is strained. She reminds her sister that she welcomed her into her home when she needed it, but now she feels like her sister doesn't appreciate it. The line "you're breaking the stairs under my feet" is perhaps a metaphor for how her sister's behaviour is making it difficult for her to move forward with her own life. The singer questions whether her sister will ever express any remorse for how she has treated her.
The chorus of the song is a scathing criticism of her sister's preoccupation with material possessions and social status. The line "you're so vain like Carly's vain" is a reference to the classic song "You're So Vain" by Carly Simon. The singer suggests that her sister's obsession with appearances is shallow and ultimately meaningless. Overall, the song is a tale of frustration and disappointment, as the singer struggles to come to terms with her sister's self-absorption and inability to appreciate what she already has.
Line by Line Meaning
Sister, you're losing it now but can't you see,
Julie Peel is telling her sister that she is coming undone and needs help, but that Julie doesn't have the time to listen to her sister's long-winded stories.
I don't have the time to listen to your old stories
Julie Peel doesn't have time to listen to her sister's retellings of past events.
Sister, the life you live would worth the trip,
Julie Peel thinks her sister's life is worth exploring and experiencing.
if you'd stop complaining about all the things you didn't get yet
Julie Peel wants her sister to stop complaining and looking at things she hasn't yet accomplished.
Sister, my home was your home when you needed it
Julie Peel let her sister stay with her when needed.
I don't want it back, but have the decency to at least remember it
Julie Peel doesn't want her sister to return the favor, but would like her sister to at least remember the help.
Sister, you're breaking the stairs under my feet,
Julie Peel is saying that her sister is making it hard for her to remain stable and level-headed.
If I take you down with me, will you ever say you're sorry?
Julie Peel is debating whether or not to bring her sister down with her and she's unsure if her sister would apologize.
No one's gonna care if you're wearing your expensive clothes
Julie Peel is saying that no one cares about her sister's material possessions.
You're so shallow
Julie Peel thinks her sister is superficial.
No one gives a damn when you're trying hard to strike a pose
Julie Peel is saying that no one cares about her sister's attempts at looking good.
And it is so right
Julie Peel agrees with her own thoughts on the matter.
You're so vain, you're so vain like Carly's vain.
Julie Peel is comparing her sister's vanity to the character of who Carly Simon sings in 'You're So Vain'
Contributed by Grayson K. Suggest a correction in the comments below.