Juliana Hatfield puts
her best foot forward

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By Gary C.W. Chun
gchun@starbulletin.com

The former alt-rock girl, as evident in this fine compilation of minor hits and previously unreleased songs, can still balance well-constructed melodies with a melancholy lyric. But don't worry; this Berklee School of Music grad is too smart to succumb fully to what she's termed "white, middle-class angst."

Now 34, Hatfield is the daughter of a doctor (who died last year) and Boston Globe fashion editor Julie Hatfield. She rose to indie-rock notoriety in the mid-'80s with the Blake Babies, one of several notable bands on the New England scene that included Throwing Muses, Dinosaur Jr. and the Lemonheads.

"Gold Stars 1992-2002: The Juliana Hatfield Collection" Juliana Hatfield (Zoë/Rounder) 1/2

During the early years of her solo career, she got a major-label push due to her association/friendship with the Lemonheads' hunk, Evan Dando. Her first four hits, including "My Sister" and "Spin the Bottle," lead off this collection of hook-filled, smart-girl rock.

After that, she bolted from the spotlight to continue recording for smaller labels. Her high, appealing voice and convincing ways with a melody are her strong suit, with the subject matter veering from noisy, lustful fantasies ("Fleur de Lys," "Houseboy" and "My Protégée") to vulnerable lonely-at-love songs ("Mountains of Love," a revealing "Fade Away" and "Cry in the Dark").

Hatfield also does a couple of telling covers; she gives a couple of bracing slaps to "Every Breath You Take" that toughen it up, and offers a sweet-voiced homage to the ornery, sentimental old rocker Neil Young on his "Only Love Can Break Your Heart."

The set ends with a superb song, "Table for One," a rueful celebration of being alone in a public place. Her ability to get to the emotional truth of the matter with a well-written turn of phrase or two is evident here.

As a reassessment of Hatfield's career, "Gold Stars" certainly makes a positive case for this overlooked musical talent.

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