Bad Dream Jaguar

“Bad Dream Jaguar” Sun June
Sun June is an Austin-based indie pop band. Led by singer and multi-instrumentalist, Laura Colwell, who collaborates on the songwriting with guitarist and vocalist, Stephen Salisbury, this is Sun June’s 3rd album. The collection leans toward dream pop — or as the band calls it, ‘regret pop’ — in part due to the separation created when Salisbury moved to North Carolina for grad school. (Colwell has since joined him there…the rest of the band remains in Austin.) A hint of Texas country slips in at times, but otherwise, the songs subtly integrate synths and guitars in the layered arrangements — with a nice mix of tempos, stylings, and hi-fi and lo-fi. The lyrics largely try to come to grips with loneliness and longing, hope and despair, accepting today and looking to the future.
— Francis

Recommended: 3, 7, 6, 10, 4, 1, 8. No FCCs detected.

1. (3:20) Eager — Ethereal opening. Wistful, airy vocals over an atmospheric synth landscape. Eventually adds some Phil Collins-like percussion. ***
2. (3:05) 16 Riders — An easy, chill stroll. Reminiscent of some of the band’s earlier work. Longing vocals in a slow burn.
3. (3:20) Mixed Bag — Hopeful, uplifting catchy dream pop. A single. Synth strings, chime-y keys and drums. Throaty guitar in the lead breaks. ****
4. (4:18) Moon Ahead — Strummy guitar interwoven with piano. Introspective lyrics. Colwell says it’s about thinking what her parents might have been like at her age. A little jazzy sax in the second lead break. ***
5. (4:12) Ambitions — Slow, meandering and sad. Vocals mostly within the same few notes. Shimmering backdrop. A few synth ‘squiggles’ from time to time.
6. (2:22) Easy Violence — Kind of a low-key strut, built on synth, acoustic guitar and drum machine rhythm. ****
7. (2:54) John Prine — Pensive piano ballad. Whisper soft vocals. Rich orchestration. No drums. Lovely. ****
8. (4:43) Sage — Deliberate, almost march-like pace. Longing vocals. Dark, melancholic and cinematic with the backing vocals. A hint of pedal steel guitar with some brass in the background near the end. **
9. (3:25) Washington Square — Lilting and shimmery dream pop looking back on a visit with a friend in NYC. Picks up a bit in the middle.
10. (3:23) Get Enough — Laid-back ‘anthem.’ Not arena-ready, by any means. But there’s a confidence and certainty as Colwell reflects on how one can be lonely even while being in love. ***
11. (3:56) Texas — Another down-tempo, hazy ‘regret pop’ ode. Discordant vocals. Dense musical layers.
12. (2:48) Lightning — Thoughtful closer. Quietly exploring the feelings of people learning to let go or pass like headlights in the night.