Julie Drinks With Demons

Willodean isn't a mainstream moniker. It’s an anachronistic name, one for a band that chronicles longing, loneliness, and lost loves.

Willodean's self-titled debut album exposes someone as afraid of finding love as losing it. Dan Barrett’s gravelly baritone has a toughness suited to -- maybe rooted in -- the vulnerability of the lyrics. Producer Eric Holden’s upright bass resonates with sturdy, near-ancient melodies. Guitarist/pianist Randy Wooten’s lyrics evoke a dreamy world of misgiving and missed chances.