Juliana Hatfield, “Hey Babe” (Mammoth, 1992)
Hatfield’s first (and best) solo album uses a circumspectly adorable approach to mask a forceful powerchord punch, crystallizing a tactic that would influence many. Not only that, the melodies twist and turn in all sorts of peculiar directions, following Hatfield’s fancies, yet always remain coherent and stick to your ear like sour apple bubblegum. I fuckin’ love this album.
Try 3, 5 (great) and especially 6.
5/12/11