How We See It Now, by June Star

How We See It Now

by June Star

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Includes unlimited streaming via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality downloads of It's Only Dark, Tour Diary: Day 11 April 08, 2023, Tour Diary: Day 10 April 07, 2023, Tour Diary: Day 08 April 05, 2023, Tour Diary: Day 07 April 04, 2023, Tour Diary: Day 06 April 03, 2023, Tour Diary: Day 05 April 02, 2023, Tour Diary: Day 04 April 01, 2023, and 27 more. , and , .
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1.	Seven Pieces 03:41	lyrics	buy track
if we get any better would you respond next time don't forget that the simple no is enough to satisfy you see it gets so lonely when you wait this long losing count of the signals you send maybe I'm doing this wrong ooooooo is anyone there? ooooooo I'm asking for a friend you see I've starved myself just to fit in this skin I'm supposed to sell my soul I don't know where to begin ooooooo is anyone there? ooooooo I'm asking for a friend ooooooo is anyone there? ooooooo I'm asking for a friend is there a spell I should repeat? how do you read your code? how do I write in polite agitation do all these dates have holds? I'm going blind seeking the light a proof of life, I'm looking for seven pieces missing from a puzzle seven days on a seven day tour ooooooo is anyone there? ooooooo I'm asking for a friend ooooooo is anyone there? ooooooo I'm asking for a friend I'm asking for a friend I'm asking for a friend I'm asking for a friend
2.	How We See It Now 02:17	lyrics	buy track
oh the clock is ticking down too close to call we measured it in yards out of reach just a touch too far and how you see it now is how I see it now the marks we made will fade like a city underground with a secret we can keep words without sound and how you see it now is how I see it now wave goodbye to this place wave goodbye to this place and how you see it now is how I see it now and how you see it now is how I see it now
3.	Border 01:54	lyrics	buy track
I've tried everything I know followed every rule you ever broke some things just won't go you are the thing I miss the most I'm not sure that I know you now you have gone so blue I shut my eyes too tightly this time fireworks and lightning shooting up in my eyes if I lose my way, don't leave me behind wait for me over the borderline I'm not sure that I know you now you have gone so blue I'm not sure that I know you now you have gone so blue
4.	Leave It Alone 01:50	lyrics	buy track
the small waves pull you farther away than you think they can leave it alone, she said wait until tomorrow and we'll figure out the rest the sun burns through you way deeper than you think it does leave it alone, she said wait until tomorrow and we'll figure out the rest the grass grows over you prettier than you can ever be leave it alone, she said wait until tomorrow and we'll figure out the rest leave it alone, she said wait until tomorrow and we'll figure out the rest
5.	Afraid of the Fall 01:58	lyrics	buy track
it's a high wire act getting to know you I'm moving heel to toe hoping I don't shake loose I'm not afraid of the fall with the lights in my eyes I can't see my next move and there's a ways to go only one way to lose I'm not afraid of the fall I'm not afraid of the fall can you see me, dear? I'm looking for you now the crowd is a blur I'll be seeing you soon I'm not afraid of the fall it's a part of somebody's plan I'm not afraid of the fall I'm afraid of where I'll land I'm not afraid of the fall I'm not afraid of the fall
6.	I Don't Wanna Know 03:22	lyrics	buy track
the last I heard you had changed your course and rearranged everything like I was hoping for I don't believe my eyes 'cause I trust my heart you'd fall for anyone walking home in the dark I don't wanna know I don't wanna know I don't wanna know you better bet your life I've gotta love unchained no one we've ever been before will stand in our way I don't wanna know I don't wanna know I don't wanna know please tell me you found a way please tell me we didn't break so long since passed when we held hands tell me if you miss this tell me so I can understand I don't wanna know (please tell me) I don't wanna know (please tell me) I don't wanna know (please tell me) I don't wanna know (please tell me) I don't wanna know (please tell me) I don't wanna know (please tell me)
7.	Macon 03:53	lyrics	buy track
the flowers on the table look like they could use a drink again I left the water running in the sink is someone talking to me? I will answer, eventually. the silverware is out and piled in a mess this looks like my home what is the address? is someone talking to me? I will answer, eventually. is someone talking to me? is someone talking to me? I can't remember if I should remember you the days are getting shorter help me remember you is someone talking to me? is someone talking to me? I will answer. I will answer. I will answer. I will answer. I will answer. I will answer.
8.	Universal Truce 02:36	lyrics	buy track
I fucked it up again gave you what you needed I made your troubles mine and I know now you're naked wrapped up in someone's arms nearly awake, nearly gone and all I really want tonight is to slowly disappear I spoke my peace so many times no one seems to hear so please be gentle with me I break so easily even deep silence leaves marks on me and another turn I'll follow making it up as I go and I'm feeling sorry for myself you see it's such a short trip and we all know how it ends me without you, me with shaking fists and you're never gentle with me you never seem to care even as we drift by each other, year after year and all I really want tonight is to slowly disappear I speak my peace so many times you never seem to hear you never seem to hear no, you never seem to hear
9.	There's a Reason 01:39	lyrics	buy track
there's a reason I can't remember the things that I forgot I'm starting to think that I will never die there's a purpose in finding out what you don't like I'm starting to think that I will never die there's a lesson we'll have to learn for ourselves I'm starting to think that I will never die there's some people we're all finding out they're hard to love I'm starting to think that I will never die I'm starting to think that I will never die
10.	Straight 02:20	lyrics	buy track
don't ask me how I know I will set it straight one down one to go I will set it straight I don't know if I'll laugh again or how I'll get away I do the things I say I'll do I will set it straight unanswered dreams you gave to me I will set it straight you know you'll never fade from me I will set it straight I don't know if we'll dance again or how we get away I do things I say I do I will set it straight don't ask me why it's true or how I got this way I do the things they say I do I will set it straight
11.	As Always 02:36	lyrics	buy track
I've been hearing the words you're saying and I've heard enough even if you're speaking slowly still it hurts too much and as always I'm too late and as always I think it can wait and as always I'm too late and I know you've been speaking my mind but I don't sound like that could you try to listen like me and promise not to talk back and as always I'm too late and as always I think it can wait and as always I'm too afraid missing cues starting late my lips your face and as always I'm too late and as always I think it can wait and as always I'm too afraid missing cues and starting late your hips my faith and as always I'm too late and as always I think it can wait and as always I'm too afraid and as always and as always and as always and as always

about

Though 2020 has been a year of noxious politics, dizzying precaution, and dispiriting inaction, anyone tapped into music culture has been thankful for artists like Baltimore-based June Star, artists without whose honesty, heartfelt storytelling, and outright kick-ass songs make the worst of times more manageable. Luckily, despite the heaviness of the moment, Andrew Grimm’s recording project June Star buoys souls with aching vocals and plaintive folk arrangements. Paired with his literature-indebted perspective, Grimm comes off like Smog-era Bill Callahan if he had chosen to dive inward or The Jayhawks if they were more keen to stark emotional realism. June Star brings a time-honored aesthetic to his unique tales of fractious love, quixotic anxiety, and the looming shadow of death.

Coming off a dizzyingly prolific run of releases – this will mark his 11th full-length record in six years – June Star’s forthcoming 2021 release How We See it Now came about by breaking through the social-emotional chokehold that 2020 strapped the world with. Though these songs were not written for or during the lockdown (for that see Grimm’s 2020 solo release A Little Heat), they were born from a flurry of creative output. Grimm holed up at Magpie Cage Studios in Baltimore, MD and culled together a ‘best of’ from his past three years worth of Bandcamp output. When he finally sat down to listen to years worth of material, these were the songs that stood out as surefire winners.

Listening through, it’s easy to hear what was so special about these twelve tracks: pedal-steel laden laments sway drunkenly next to folk-rock foot-stompers and his vocal performances ache with the same existential doubt we all feel at the moment. But where some artists wallow, June Star searches for hope. On songs like “I’m Not Afraid of the Fall” his romantic resignation comes off not like a forlorn sigh, but a deep breath, prepping himself for all the joy and pain that comes hand-in-hand with love and existence.

Grimm’s elegiac and bottom-heavy tenor opens the album by hopefully intoning, “If we get any better/Would you respond next time?” The impressionistic nature of this sentiment – both sanguine and dejected – rubs elbows with bittersweet cello and effervescent chorus-laden guitars, recalling a familiar jaded pop prowess (like if Jeff Tweedy were indebted to Johnny Marr rather than Gram Parsons). Elsewhere, the insistent thrum of the titular track disarmingly nails the marriage of modern Americana with the sticky harmonies of late-90s pop rock ala the Gin Blossoms and Old 97s. Regardless of where the needle lands, Grimm is there with his guitar and a very talented group of folk-rock musicians anchored by Dave Hadley’s expert pedal steel playing. Deftly produced by Bunky Hunt, the entire album emits a warmth not just from the traditional instrumentation, but also the way Hunt seems to capture the energy of live performance and highlight the rapturous details that make the distinction between an album and a classic clear.

Grimm, who has been plugging away on the scene with June Star since 1998, doubles as an Academic, teaching college literature courses during the day, while crafting songs in his spare time. In essence, Grimm has been producing albums since 1998, though he humbly claims that he has only mastered it in the last decade. As Grimm’s writing has matured and grown, he’s learned to focus his lyrics and narratives on the external, even going so far as to write an entire album focusing on his neighbors on 2018’s East on Green. Adopting this new ethos has engendered a myriad of songs culminating in How We See it Now, which expertly melds the lyrical punch of his literary inspirations with the down-to-earth, no bullshit naturalism of Paul Westerberg.

And while the world anticipates the return of live music with bated breath, Grimm is taking full advantage of his free time continuing to plug away at his songcraft and capturing the precarious spirit of modern times. Luckily, while the world awaits egress from hibernation, we have records like How We See it Now to suture the cracks in our collective hearts.

credits

released April 16, 2021

Andrew Grimm: vox, guitars, banjo
David Hadley: pedal steel
Ryan Finnerin: bass
Katie Feild: vox, acoustic guitar
Mike Kuhl: drums, percussion

Special Guests:

Gordon Withers: cello
Brian Simms: keyboards
Bunky Hunt: harmonies, hand claps

Produced by Bunky Hunt
Recorded at Magpie Cage Studios
Engineered by J Robbins
Mixed by Andrew Grimm and J Robbins
Mastered by Pete Lyman at Infrasonic Mastering
Graphic Design by Katie Feild

All words and music Andrew Grimm
Except "I Don't Wanna Know" by Andrew Grimm and ellen cherry

license

about

June Star Baltimore, Maryland

June Star was started up by Andrew Grimm in 1998. For twenty years they have been changing members and releasing records. What started out as primarily americana type music has now just morphed into music... See you around.

junestar.com

shows

Apr 26

The Greenhouse Collective

Laramie, WY
Apr 30

Montrose Saloon

Chicago, IL
May 2

Lager House

Detroit, MI
May 3

Rambling House

Columbus, OH
May 4

Trail Town Brewing

Yellow Springs, OH
May 5

Purple Fiddle

Thomas, WV
May 29

Charlie O's World Famous

Montpelier, VT
Sep 14

Garryowen Irish Pub

Gettysburg, PA
Sep 28

Blue Tavern

Tallahassee, FL
Sep 29

Maggie's Musical Farm

Panama City Beach, FL
Dec 21

Garryowen Pub

Gettysburg, PA

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