| · Making the grade. Experimental singer-songwriter moves to head of the class with latest full-length album.
It's fitting that the cover art on June Panic's latest record I Hope You Fail Better, features the musician's third grade science fair project entitled Lemon Power. The singer-songwriter has been criticized in the past for being a mad scientist of sound, locking himself away to record more than 300 songs all by his lonesome. Not so of June Panic's latest attempt, which not only uses a full band, but an actual producer. The result is accessible, experimental rock – think Dinosaur Jr. meets Hayden. No need to go out and buy a decoder ring. Panic is aware that he's playing music to an actual audience, and keeps the psychedelia muted under strange harmonies.
His lyrics are loopy loops of dark-room philosophy, not so much building a narrative, but streams of consciousness. Droning instrumentation makes for an interesting backdrop to the wobbly whine of his voice. There isn't a hint of ego, this record was made as a vehicle for pure expression. On the track "That's The Moon, My Son," Panic's voice cracks with sweet earnestness. He's not afraid to exchange intelligence for humour on songs such as "Breach Birth Control," pairing sincerity with handclaps. June Panic has found a balance between ingenuity and pretension, making heartfelt music for the masses.
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