A solo career retrospective, rather than a greatest hits. A chronological run through from Hey Babe to Total System Failure including two previously unreleased tracks (Mountains of Love and Fade Away) from the ‘lost’ album God’s Foot.

A satisfactory selection of songs from the different periods and if the God’s Foot selections weren’t enough to drag in the die hard fans, the album adds another 4 brand new Juliana compositions and a pleasant if not particularly essential cover of Neil Young’s Only Love Can Break Your Heart.  (The other cover, Every Breath You Take, is an utter treat, a guitar layered reworking of The Police standard).

Of the new songs, Your Eyes is a highlight.  On first listen its stumbles but on repeated plays the beauty of the chorus wins through: “your eyes made it seem like everything would be ok / like your eyes would never close”.

We Will Rise Again adds to Juliana’s canon of optimistic, uplifting hymns.  Not originally intended for release but included on this compilation in light of the post 9/11 mood.

The closer, Table For One, is quite naturally a return to Juliana, the outsider, and as ever a song of almost impossible beauty.

Fans will argue long into the night over the omissions on here which prevent it being a true ‘best of’.  The failure to include I Got No Idols, Live On Tomorrow and Make It Home is a minor crime, but as a ‘collection’ this is a success.

The sleevenotes contain this:

“Just remember:
Cultivate and trust your own genius.  You are it.  Everyone else’s genius is just as precious.  Act accordingly.  If what you are taught makes no sense, you are beginning to learn.  Be suspicious of whatever society says you must do.  The social order is necessary, but often not in your best interests.  Follow your nose wherever it may lead. Use your eyes, ears, mind and heart well.  They are all you have."

- Philip Mitchell Hatfield
1939-2001