Album Notes

Julia Francis is a California pop balladeer with a fever for rock and roll. Delivering provocative lyrics and musically diverse songs, Julia’s seasoned and highly expressive voice gives you heartbreak, humor, and most of the time, a happy ending.

Julia’s latest work, Lucky Penny, was co-produced by Victor DeLorenzo (Violent Femmes founding drummer) and Mike Hoffmann (EIEIO) in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, 2007.

Julia has said, “I write songs to get over, through, and closer to, the biggest joys and pains in my life—the ones that make me feel most alive. As a teenager in Alaska, I cruised in my rusted-out car while belting my favorite popular songs—even more satisfying than scoring a six-pack without an ID. A lot of songs on this record are written for that 17 year old, full to bursting, who would give anything for another good song to sing and believe in.”

Eleven new songs feature Victor DeLorenzo and Mike Hoffmann, as well as these other world-class musicians: drummer Vinnie Colaiuta (Frank Zappa, Joni Mitchell, Sting); drummer Ben Smith (Heart); bassist Andy Stoller (Tracy Chapman); and guitarist Jeff Fielder (Sera Cahoone). The record was mastered by Joe Gastwirt on 9/11/07, released on April 18, 2008.

Advance review have been positive. Subba-Cultcha.com wrote, “Francis has a lovely voice somewhere between Joni, Carole, Jenny Lewis and Natalie Merchant. It also has a touch Cowboy Junkies about it.”

Dr. Martin Jack Rosenblum, Music History And Literature Professor at UWM, wrote: "From the specific but evocative 'chicken bone and orange rind' in Don’t Forget to the question impossible to answer but necessary to ask, 'where’s your chair?,' in You Haul, the songs on Lucky Penny by Julia Francis put you in a unique position to be saved by emotional complexity – and not just have spent pop music by the dollar."

Co-producer Mike Hoffmann described Julia's work this way, "All the great singers hold up the story and make you feel like it isn’t singing at all but rather sharing a secret with you. Julia does that in her sleep."

Raised on Alaska’s Kodiak Island, Julia found her voice the day she fell into the river. Coming of age as a theater artist and vocalist in Seattle, Julia penned a novel, learned guitar and released her debut record, Five Challenges to Flight. Her newest CD, Lucky Penny, has received advance praise and her fans are spreading the word. Welcome.