A review of Jules' song, "Turnaround" on the the new "Respond" benefit CD. Jules Verdone tends to put her best songs on benefits, and "Turnaround" is no exception -- the tune is gorgeous and she's an expert at emotional gallows humor ("I think I want my old problems back, forgive me if I get graphic/I want to memorize the look on your face before I walk into traffic"). --Brett Milano, The Boston Phoenix, Dec. 3, 1998 in a feature about the newly released "Respond" benefit CD To order copies visit the Q Store or call 1-800-694-5354 or visit signature-sounds or folkweb Info on Respond? Respond Website

Lots of praise for Jules Verdone, her band, and Diary of a Liar:

Jules Verdone tends to put her best songs on benefits, and "Turnaround" is no exception -- the tune is gorgeous and she's an expert at emotional gallows humor ("I think I want my old problems back, forgive me if I get graphic/I want to memorize the look on your face before I walk into traffic").

-Brett Milano, The Boston Phoenix, Dec. 3, 1998 in a feature about the newly released "Respond" benefit CD

"Verdone is...forceful and pugnacious....Verdone is no sentimentalist. 'Diary of a Liar' can be viewed as a Nineties version of Elvis Costello's 'This Year's Model' from a prickly, feminine perspective. Marrying nimble, quick-witted wordplay to dynamic and unpredictable music, Verdone comes off as a precocious talent who uses her guitar and voice in furtherance of the strategy 'don't get mad, get even.' - Parke Puterbaugh, Stereo Review, June 1998

"Revealing a painful truth comes easier when it is accompanied by an entrancing melody. But for Boston's Jules Verdone, who injects uncut anguish straight to the heart, catchy tunes are also suitable for disclosures of the opposite kind, as in when she hisses at a former lover on one track: 'Something's coming through my teeth/It's a lie, it's a lie, it's a lie.' The 11 mid-tempo rockers here all brim with forthright honesty, however, a quality Verdone perhaps acquired during stints as an AIDS educator and Planned Parenthood counselor. But whether fact or fiction, these cleverly constructed pop tunes--all sung with a charming subtlety--sound inimitably tried and true." -Alec Foege, PEOPLE magazine, February 23, 1998

"On a debut that brims with self-assured vitality and just the right touch of winking sarcasm (what else did you expect from an album titled "Diary of a Liar"?), Verdone offers a potent reminder of just how effective and intelligent a three-minute pop song can be....By spiking her stories with barbed-wire wit and a candid, casual incisiveness, she deftly avoids traps that snare many a singer/songwriter these days: look-at-me melodrama and sugar-coated sentimentality. Instead, such tracks as "The Porch Song" and "When I Snap Out of This" are tender laments of exacting precision and power, while riff-and-rhyme rockers including "Keep This Up" and the delectably nasty "Through My Teeth" are models of hook-loaded compression....Verdone has crafted a sharply focused debut that not only yields an abundance of immediate rewards, but carries with it much promise for the future." - Jonathan Perry, REQUEST, March 1998

"Although the Boston-based songwriter clearly has a way with words, what makes 'Diary of a Liar' so refreshing is that it's as tuneful as it is quotable. Even better, Verdone's dry, sardonic delivery prevents any hint of whining self-pity to slip into complaint songs like 'Baltimore or Less' (about summer doldrums in her former hometown) and 'Debt.' All told, 'Liar' is a debut to believe in." - J.D. Considine, The Baltimore Sun, March 12, 1998

"'Diary of a Liar' bursts through the speakers with an array of catchy pop songs that dig deeper with serious lyrics, biting puns, and infectious guitar riffs. She's a gal who knows how to have fun, but remains serious about her passion for everything lyrical and melodic."- Discover Card Website, www.digitaldetour.com, March 15 ,1998

"Verdone has...[created] a set of captivating and soothingly maudlin rock tunes called 'Diary of a Liar.' - Randee Dawn, Alternative Press, May 1998

"Backed by a band that interrelated well without overplaying, [Verdone] tore through a set and a half. Her willingness to push expectations just a little serves her well. 'Diary of a Liar' kicks butt while having something intelligent to say."- Steve Bornstein, review of live show at Rudy's, New Haven, in Mixx Magazine, March 1998

"While [Cheri] Knight and [Steve] Earle occasionally evoke guitar-driven pop-rock sounds, Jules Verdone celebrates them on 'Diary of a Liar,' layering one track after another with jangly riffs and reverberating drones. Even when a melody slowly folds into a short loop, as on the ballad 'Little,' shimmering guitar tones help create a hypnotic effect, quietly underscoring the entries in Verdone's [CD]....'Diary' is the guilty pleasure it was meant to be." - Mike Joyce, The Washington Post, March 15, 1998

"'Diary of a Liar' is a really funny album title. What kind of neurotic would lie to her own journal? Boston's Jules Verdone may hold her cards close to the vest, but it doesn't mean she's trying to pull a fast one. The comparisons to Liz Phair [could] be more accurate ... Verdone's northeastern sensibilities are more in tune with Jen Trynin or Robin Lane or Amy Rigby." - Kate X Messer, The Austin Chronicle, March 20, 1998

"Jules Verdone...combines literate lyrics with alt-rock noise in the best tradition of Liz Phair." - The Memphis Flyer, March 19, 1998

"Jules Verdone is not one of those naive folk, pop rock, acoustic guitar-playing wannabes....Verdone communicates her feelings with subtlety and respect for her listeners. Her work is emotional-filled but edgy, contemplative and sometimes forgiving." - Ricardo Cooney, Lansing State Journal, March 26, 1998

"Verdone's pop-infused rhythms are wrought with deliberate phrasing, which have led to her status as one of Boston's finest songwriters. Verdone has a knack for descriptive lyrics, yet plays detached observer to the subjects on 'Diary of a Liar.' - Christine Young, The Cleveland Scene, March 26, 1996

"Verdone's lyrical smarts and pop attitude create a winning combination." -FREETIME, Rochester, New York, March 25, 1998

"I have three words to describe my feelings about the release of this album: fi-na-lee....In 'Diary of a Liar,' we have a comprehensive journal of someone losing and getting her life together....Whether she's singing about something as concrete as money troubles ('Debt') or as complex as the conflict between intellectual and emotional behavior (see 'Everything's Your Fault' and 'When I Snap Out of This'), Jules sings in a way that completely, artlessly charms....Some creative instrumental touches spice things up to perfection: Jon Lupfer himself plays a lovely chamberlin on the haunting 'Little'; Merrie Amsterburg plays mandolin on 'Everything's Your Fault'; Kevin Salem's slide guitar sits in on 'Porch Song'; and Jules plays some swirly Wurlitzer on 'Fall Down in Three.'" - M.A. Ricciardi, THE NOISE, March 1998

"If catchy, complex, guitar-based pop is your thing, don't miss songstress Jules Verdone's debut. Produced by Jon Lupfer--who shepherded debuts by Q Division artists like Poundcake and Brian Stevens--'Diary' has the crunchy feeling of '60s psychedelia, the crystalline pop constructions of Big Star, and the clever, raw lyrics of a woman coming to terms with her life. While 'Debt' could become the next Gen-X anthem with its tongue-in-cheek litany of life in the red, the real depth of this work reveals itself later on. The brilliantly arranged 'Finger,' the mantra-like 'Fall Down in Three,' the trippy 'Everything's Your Fault,' the indelibly melodic 'Baltimore or Less,' and the heart-rending 'When I Snap Out of This' all mesh to create a genuinely stirring first LP. Grade: A-" -B.R. Hunter, SWING, March 1998

"The Boston-based singer's stunning debut disc, 'Diary of a Liar,' is brimming with snazzy, hook-filled pop tunes....The 11 songs reveal Verdone's knack for getting at real emotion, unlike many of her contemporaries who go the faux angst route. With incisiveness and wit, Verdone tackles soured relationships, leaving home, and, er, soured relationships....A brilliant new disc." - Tim McCarney, Campus Calendar (Boston), February 1998

"Blake Babies with maturity and balls." - Matt of Arlington, Virginia, who signed the band's mailing list at Iota, March 15, 1998.

Nice direct pop music from a talented lady I had not heard before. Jules Verdone is somewhat reminiscent of Suzanne Vega or even the lighter side of Patti Smith at times...but she adds her own unique twist to her pop tunes on Diary Of A Liar. Most importantly, she has a flair for writing lyrics that really makes these tunes stand out. Not overly weird or peculiar, Ms. Verdone's subtlety draws you into her tunes before you know what has happened. She's a good vocalist too...damn good. Eleven tracks including "Through My Teeth," "Dumb Rock Song," and "Baltimore or Less." Simply enjoyable soft pop with a sense of humor. (Rating: Excellent) Babysue Ezine March1998

"Another hometown success--Jules Verdone, born and raised in Rochester (specifically, Greece)--has just put out her stunning debut, 'Diary of a Liar.' This disc is exceptional and brings to mind two of my favorite female singer/songwriters, Liz Phair and fellow Bostonite Tracy Bonham, both in lyrical cynicism and indie rock attitude."- Michelle Picardo, Freetime Magazine, Feb. 11, 1998

"Here's the album we should be expecting from Liz Phair this year. Diary' is a mature woman's insight propped on a plate of pop songs. So often, lyrics with any depth bore the youthful center of popular music. Yet here, we find singer Jules Verdone's songs penetrating beyond the easy surface and becoming more memorable with every listen. While standouts like 'Through My Teeth' and 'When I Snap Out of This' have great hooks, the strength here is in her approach to lyrics. You'll have to look elsewhere for obvious pop-song cliches or a 21-year-old's brave confrontation of a lost boyfriend. Diary's clever wordplay gives Verdone's perspective much welcomed intrigue and depth. Overall, a fine debut." - John Davidson, Amplifier Magazine, March 1998

"'Diary of a Liar' took two years in the studio and survived band breakups, teeth gnashing, and material trashing. The result is intelligent, articulate rock. The former AIDS counselor's take on life and relationships has hooks by the handful. Personal, but not necessarily true. Verdone has a 'don't ask, don't tell' policy. She provides the witty, ironic, and perceptive lyrics and the catchy melodies. You fill in the blanks. This is a very satisfying album from someone who has something to say and the talent to frame it....The future looks bright." - Chuck Ginsberg, Spotlight, Portsmouth, NH, Feb. 19, 1998

"Jules Verdone has been through New Haven often in the past few years,but she's still impossible to take for granted....Verdone's singular songwriting is a tentative blend between tender self-examination and tough truths about the universal human condition. She bristles, she counsels, she rocks....Cannily produced by Q Division's Jon Lupfer so as to sound radio-friendly but neither slick nor grunge, 'Diary of a Liar' lovingly collects Verdone's verbal acrobatics and Dorothy Parker-caliber witticisms. A directness and sense of purpose in her subject matter and hard-hitting riffs make Verdone an exceptional, astute practitioner of pure poptunesmithing." - Christopher Arnott, The New Haven Advocate, January 29, 1998

"With an approach that evoked both the clear-eyed resolve of Danielle Howle and the skewed, arrow-through-the-heart romanticism of Liz Phair, Verdone's songs sought to make sense of a world littered with boorish ex-lovers, fractured friendships, and damaged characters lost in long shadows of doubt and regret. On Friday night, however, neither doubts nor regrets seemed to be in attendance." - Review of 12-12-97 release party at TT's, in Stuff @ Night,  December 23, 1997

"[Verdone's] spunky guitar-oriented pop arrangements fit in with...her sweet-and-sour sound...and her witty lyrics shine with their own character." - Scott McLennan, The Worcester Telegram & Gazette, December 11, 1997

"'Diary' is a naked, unencumbered-sounding rock disc that retains the freshness of a rough mix while discreetly adding sharp finishing touches. The songs draw us in with teasing wit while doubling as a vent for Verdone's frustrations." - Tristram Lozaw, The Boston Herald, December 12, 1997

"[Verdone's] songs exude a basic saneness and smartness, something one doesn't always find in rock lyrics. And she's got a conversational way of singing that makes you think everything spilled out at just that moment." - Brett Milano, The Boston Phoenix, December 5, 1997

"An articulate rock album teeming with hooks and subtleties....Diary of a Liar [is] a disc that reveals its pleasures with each listen, even as it teases by mixing truth and fiction with the skill of a sublime novelist." - Steve Morse, The Boston Globe, December 5, 1997

"A confident, multifaceted album...Verdone's songs are probing, playful, and, at times, perplexing--all in the right way." - Ken Capobianco, The Boston Tab, December 9, 1997.