We continue our "Best of NYC Countdown", covering every day one of the artists that made our Year End Best of NYC list (a chart compiled by a jury comprised of local bloggers, music writers, promoters, record sotre personnel and DJs). Many of the bands in this list will play The Deli’s Best of NYC Fest in Williamsburg in May (6 shows in 3 different venues between the 13 and the 15).
Julie Peel leads a large pack of contemporary pop folk writers who are clamoring for the montage spot on show’s like "Grey’s Anatomy." While her peers stick as close to centrist as they can in terms of emotional delivery, Peel runs a bit more of the gamut. Her debut CD, "Near the Sun," shifts from well-crafted radio singles to intimate vulnerability reminiscent of Elliot Smith. Her best songs ("Once More With Feeling") focus on the aftermath of romantic entanglements, but can also read as general calls for brother/sisterly love. With such solid melodic material, it’s no wonder that Peel has indeed landed some air time on NBC. – Ben Krieger