JUNE STAR – PULL AWAKE
2015 – Self Released
Based in Baltimore, USA, June Star were formed 17 years ago, with their self titled debut album being released a year later. This new recording is their eleventh in a catalogue that is to my mind is almost peerless. (although I’ve yet to hear the impossible to get 2009 release ‘Shift, Engage, Initiate’) Perhaps Tom Petty has a back catalogue of similar quality, also The Byrds, but very few others that I can come up with off the top of my head. In my world that proves beyond all reasonable doubt that luck and expensive promotional campaigns, although not necessarily in that order, are everything, with talent being useful as well, but as it often seems to me, not absolutely essential! Therein lies the problem for June Star. Of the three above debatable requirements musical talent is the one they have in great abundance although it is such that the other two, in a fair world, should not be at all necessary! Sadly, this world is anything but fair.
The core of the band is and always has been Andrew Grimm on vocals, songwriting, guitars, banjo and harmonica, whilst on pedal steel guitar is the uniquely talented David Hadley who I have actually seen described as a musical ‘alchemist!’ Supplementing the incredible sounds these two make is Kurt Celtnieks on drums and Andy Bopp on guitars, percussion, backing vocals and production. Their originality is such that the initiated can recognize their unique sound almost immediately, whether it is Andrew’s moodily atmospheric baritone that has the smooth edges stripped away or by the wash of sound that is David Hadleys steel guitar blending with electric guitars but providing the melodic lead. It is a sound that has a beautiful melodicism that washes over the listener as it ebbs and flows with Andrews vocal providing an edgy counter point that gives a distinctive shape to every song. There is such an obvious depth of conviction and feeling in June Star’s music, setting them apart from most other bands, although there is no doubt that they do fit comfortably under the alt. country banner but more by coincidence than contrivance. The instrumentation is relatively sparse but at the same time provides a full sound thanks to the unusual wash of melodicism from the steel guitar that often brings a powerful density to the overall picture painted by this band that just can’t fail to provide an uplifting melodicism, even on the more downbeat songs!
The album opener Tether starts with a nice acoustic guitar before being joined by electric guitars and drums, soon added to by the ubiquitous steel guitar in support of Andrew’s excellent vocal on a song that, as with most of their songs, has an up and down effect on the emotions, such is the powerful and fluctuating atmosphere that is created. Next up is Feathers, a song on which the steel often takes a back seat to twangy electric guitars, although not too far back, on another song that tugs the emotions in various directions but is also strangely uplifting, eventually segueing into a wash of melodic cacophony! Shelter from the preceding storm is provided by House Call, a gorgeous country ballad with lovely steel crying away in the background, helped out by acoustic guitar and excellent harmonies supporting Andrews lead with the occasional addition of twangy guitar. The tone changes completely on Walk Away a song that has a nice chugging walking bass line, with excellent banjo and guitar vying with steel on a gorgeous, moody haunting ballad. Atrophy is not a word you would normally associate with an alt. country album but when you add the melody and lyrics it works beautifully on this moody slow to mid tempo, hugely melodic song that has less of a sound wash, but with steel, acoustic guitar and harmonica providing the backing for another excellent vocal from Andrew on a strange, intensely sad tale.
Eleven tremendous songs on an album that was impressive on first listen but has got progressively better with each play to such a degree that it will soon be up their with one of my all time favourite albums, their 2001 release ‘Telegraph.’ Maybe i’m doomed to wander this earth for all eternity singing the praises of this great band. If that’s true I can think of a hell of a lot worse crusades to set out upon!
http://www.junestar.com/
Based in Baltimore, USA, June Star were formed 17 years ago, with their self titled debut album being released a year later. This new recording is their eleventh in a catalogue that is to my mind is almost peerless. (although I’ve yet to hear the impossible to get 2009 release ‘Shift, Engage, Initiate’) Perhaps Tom Petty has a back catalogue of similar quality, also The Byrds, but very few others that I can come up with off the top of my head. In my world that proves beyond all reasonable doubt that luck and expensive promotional campaigns, although not necessarily in that order, are everything, with talent being useful as well, but as it often seems to me, not absolutely essential! Therein lies the problem for June Star. Of the three above debatable requirements musical talent is the one they have in great abundance although it is such that the other two, in a fair world, should not be at all necessary! Sadly, this world is anything but fair.
The core of the band is and always has been Andrew Grimm on vocals, songwriting, guitars, banjo and harmonica, whilst on pedal steel guitar is the uniquely talented David Hadley who I have actually seen described as a musical ‘alchemist!’ Supplementing the incredible sounds these two make is Kurt Celtnieks on drums and Andy Bopp on guitars, percussion, backing vocals and production. Their originality is such that the initiated can recognize their unique sound almost immediately, whether it is Andrew’s moodily atmospheric baritone that has the smooth edges stripped away or by the wash of sound that is David Hadleys steel guitar blending with electric guitars but providing the melodic lead. It is a sound that has a beautiful melodicism that washes over the listener as it ebbs and flows with Andrews vocal providing an edgy counter point that gives a distinctive shape to every song. There is such an obvious depth of conviction and feeling in June Star’s music, setting them apart from most other bands, although there is no doubt that they do fit comfortably under the alt. country banner but more by coincidence than contrivance. The instrumentation is relatively sparse but at the same time provides a full sound thanks to the unusual wash of melodicism from the steel guitar that often brings a powerful density to the overall picture painted by this band that just can’t fail to provide an uplifting melodicism, even on the more downbeat songs!
The album opener Tether starts with a nice acoustic guitar before being joined by electric guitars and drums, soon added to by the ubiquitous steel guitar in support of Andrew’s excellent vocal on a song that, as with most of their songs, has an up and down effect on the emotions, such is the powerful and fluctuating atmosphere that is created. Next up is Feathers, a song on which the steel often takes a back seat to twangy electric guitars, although not too far back, on another song that tugs the emotions in various directions but is also strangely uplifting, eventually segueing into a wash of melodic cacophony! Shelter from the preceding storm is provided by House Call, a gorgeous country ballad with lovely steel crying away in the background, helped out by acoustic guitar and excellent harmonies supporting Andrews lead with the occasional addition of twangy guitar. The tone changes completely on Walk Away a song that has a nice chugging walking bass line, with excellent banjo and guitar vying with steel on a gorgeous, moody haunting ballad. Atrophy is not a word you would normally associate with an alt. country album but when you add the melody and lyrics it works beautifully on this moody slow to mid tempo, hugely melodic song that has less of a sound wash, but with steel, acoustic guitar and harmonica providing the backing for another excellent vocal from Andrew on a strange, intensely sad tale.
Eleven tremendous songs on an album that was impressive on first listen but has got progressively better with each play to such a degree that it will soon be up their with one of my all time favourite albums, their 2001 release ‘Telegraph.’ Maybe i’m doomed to wander this earth for all eternity singing the praises of this great band. If that’s true I can think of a hell of a lot worse crusades to set out upon!
http://www.junestar.com/