Julie Doiron

With her 2009 release, I Can Wonder What You Did With Your Day, Julie Doiron continues the sonic arithmetic she began in 2007 with Woke Myself Up. Doiron joins forces once again with former Eric's Trip bandmate Rick White for an amalgam of the low-key folk meanderings common to her earlier solo work and up-tempo indie-rock numbers that recall her time as one of Canadian indie rock's leading ladies. As a folk artist, Doiron is understated and graceful, using simple song structures and unabashedly personal lyrics to complement her homey, familiar voice. When she indulges her inner rock star, she manages to do so without losing the charm and wit that shine through when it's just her and an acoustic guitar, but always with the verve and hooky pleasure of electric-guitar-driven indie pop. The combination is at once cozy and intimate and thrillingly uplifting, making you want to curl up with a cup of tea and dance around the room in equal measure.