June Star is a long running folk/alternative southern-rock group from Baltimore, Maryland that has been fronted by singer-songwriter Andrew Grimm since its formation in 1998. The band has undergone several lineup changes since its formation nearly eighteen years ago, and has succeeded in recording ten original albums, beginning with a self-titled release in 1999. June Star currently consists of Andrew Grimm on lead vocals and guitars, David Hadley playing pedal steel, Kurt Celtnieks on drums, and Andy Bopp playing bass. Aside from this lineup, June Star has frequently invited guest musicians, such as Mark Tuminello, to play, often resulting in a performing group that can have as many as eight members on stage at a time. Andrew Grimm quit his job as a teacher in order to play music with June Star full time. The bands newest album, released March of this year, is titled “Pull Awake”, and is June Star’s tenth full length work.
After listening to about three or four of the tracks off of “Pull Awake”, it will become apparent to most listeners that June Star definitely has a succinct musical formula that is seldom deviated from. This is by no means a trait that is immediately negative. While the band does maintain rather strict principles of compositional direction and stylization, there are many examples throughout the record where June Star demonstrates the multi-dimensional capabilities of their alternative folk rock sound, usually through the exemplification of talented musicianship that is both well-executed and thoughtfully sparing. In short, the fact that a lot of the tracks on “Pull Awake” sound the same doesn’t really matter, because the overall approach to songwriting and musical composition on this record is excellent. Most listeners will not get tired of June Star’s sound, these songs are too good to be considered repetitive. That being stated, the production on this album is fantastic. One would suppose after making nine other records that June Star has gotten the hang of things in the studio by now, because everything in these tracks sounds crystal clear, sharp, and punchy. The mix is nearly perfect, and listeners will even be able to appreciate the little things on the album, from the conservative and well rounded synths, to the expertly placed guitars that always tend to be in the perfect spot on every track. Listen to the ending guitar work in “Apollo” for example, the guitar is turned down just enough to really blend in with the envelopment of sound throughout the ending of that song; knowing where to place instruments, and having the restraint to not always put everything full-bore, in-your-face, is trademark to people that simply know what they’re doing, and the skill at which this album was mixed and produced is testament to why these songs simply sound amazing. The other impressive aspect of the instrumentation on this album is its keen sense of melody, both in respect to the guitars as well as the pedal steel. The typical June Star track will be a mid-tempo glide through rustic Americana that will often feature key fills and inter-working riffs between the guitars and pedal steel, all of which will be guided by the commanding presence of Andrew Grimm’s warm and frayed vocals, which are reminiscent of a mellow Bruce Springsteen (before all the synthy pop-rock stuff). In bands that have multiple guitars, it is always impressive to hear how each musician filters into and compliments the rest; June Star has a knack for making a musical arrangement that is both sparing yet satisfyingly full and intricate, almost in the same way that Gary Rossington, Allen Collins, and Ed King all made their guitars sound so distinctly different yet harmonious in Lynyrd Skynyrd recordings. However, not all instrumentation in “Pull Awake” is restrained, and the record isn’t without its fiery guitar solos, listen to the ending jam on “Feathers” as an example. Another great mention is the pedal steel, as it serves to give the album a bundle of rustic character that really shines in its scarcity and brassy elegant twang; listen to the last track and one of the best on the album, “The King is Dead”, for excellent steel guitar work.
As was mentioned before, the premise of June Star’s sound is a conservative musical formula, and chances are, if listeners aren’t already attuned to alternative southern-rock, they’re isn’t going to be much to enjoy from this album. However, this stipulation is pretty simple, if you don’t like the genre, you probably won’t like the band. One other critique would pertain to the nature of Andrew Grimm’s vocal performance; although the vocals throughout the album are full of lived in, tender character, they are somewhat limited both in range and emotion. “Pull Awake” really could have been taken to the next level if listeners got a few high notes and vocal crescendos from the band’s frontman.
Overall, June Star is a musical experience that combines the rustic yet southern-rock orientated sounds of Crosby Stills & Nash with the contemporary alternative awareness of more modern bands like Phish. The group has produced a nearly perfect album from the standpoint of production, and the tracks reflect a sense of masterful musicianship as well as a well-developed song craft that is highly impressive, tasteful, sparing, and full of lived-in American character.
9/10
Artist: June Star
Album: Pull Awake
Label: Independent
Website: http://www.junestar.com/
Genre: Alternative Rock/Folk
Sounds Like: Bruce Springsteen, Phish, Crosby Stills & Nash
Technical Grade: 7/10
Production/Musicianship Grade: 9/10
Commercial Value: 9/10
Overall Talent Level: 9/10
Songwriting Skills: 7/10
Performance Skills: 9/10
Best Songs: Tether, Proof, The King is Dead
Strengths: Excellent overall sound, talented and melodic instrumentation
Weaknesses: Vocals are limited, little deviation in song structure
Owen Matheson