SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: HELLO JUNE – ARTIFACTS

HELLO JUNE
ARTIFACTS
31 TIGERS

It is a rare thing when a newly released album is so strong as to defy genre categorization: a work which possesses the variety and quality of songs and sounds that has the potential to reach a truly wide audience. Artifacts, from West Virginia band Hello June, is such an album.

Following their 2018 recording, the self-titled Hello June, the new release is the first full album of new music from the band in five years.

For songwriter/guitarist/front person Sarah Rudy, Artifacts marks a step forward in terms of musical and lyrical maturity. Addressing themes based on life’s difficulties, Rudy has created a collection of songs that are poignant, poetic, and direct. Speaking to Spill Magazine, she notes, “In the time between the self-titled (2018 album) and right before I wrote the Artifacts record, I kept coming across different artists who were telling stories that were deep and complex. They were really spilling their guts out, saying the dirty details of things. I felt like I was doing myself an injustice by not setting that standard and working towards that. So, with the Artifacts record, one big goal that I had in mind was to be able to look at each song and say, concisely, can someone follow this story, and hopefully relate to it in an easier way?”

The album starts strong with the first track, “Sometimes”. Smooth and soulful, this comfortable groove draws the listener in, cleverly imparting slices of advice and life lessons. The hypnotic spell of “Sometimes” is broken by the bombastic drive of “Honey I Promise”. This song is a barnburner, bringing the full force of the band to bear, as they deftly deliver their art. Early on, we get a taste of Hello June’s range, serving the material by playing strong or sensitive, as the song dictates.

The standout songs on Artifacts are many, perhaps too many to mention. Up-tempo songs such as “Faded Blue” and “California” are worthy of note, as are the pensive “The Moon” and the plaintive cover of “Take Me Home, Country Roads”. No matter the genre, there is a song on this album to suit every radio music format. While evoking sounds akin to the best work of legacy artists, Hello June has made a truly original, remarkable and memorable album.

With her stunning guitar work, and the tough and tender sound of her honest alto voice, Sarah Rudy does her songs proud. Solid support from the album’s producer, Roger Alan Nichols, on guitar, and steel guitar player Paul Niehaus, give the project colour and nuance. Keeping it all together is the rhythm section of Caleb Crosby on drums and Whit Alexander on bass guitar. Interestingly, Alexander is the drummer for Hello June’s live shows, but he does some brilliant bass work on this album.

Enthusiastic about the release of Artifacts, Rudy notes, “I feel ultimately grateful for the experience to get to work with someone as experienced as Roger, and to push myself to improve each time that I’d show up there. I really enjoyed that process, and I feel like I’m really excited about moving forward. I think that we will very quickly  turn around and make another record. I definitely have enough material to do so. I’m excited to take what we learned in this experience, and use it, going forward.”

The future looks bright for Hello June, and there is so much to enjoy on Artifacts. Give it a spin!

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