June and the Well

June and the Well bring us a self-titled album of light rock I might expect to hear on the local mainstream radio station, if not for the slight indie flavor from which too many stations seem to shy away.

The soft vocals create an easy-going atmosphere, especially when coupled with the acoustic guitar that dominates every track, sometimes with little else to accompany it. Just when it seems a song may be a lone singer and his guitar, perhaps playing at your local coffee house while you fellowship with friends over a steaming cup of java, the rest of the band sneaks in the back door and joins in.

The light piano, quiet drums, and so-smooth-you-might-miss-it bass fit well with the acoustic sound. While much of the album is slow-paced, the band does bring some energy to a few of its tunes and even adds a touch of electric guitar here and there. Only the final track hits as a full-blown rock song.

Not all of the songs are in English (and the vocalist does have a notable accent). I pick up on a spiritual atmosphere without many overt mentions of anything religious. “Second Chance” celebrates the “second natural birth” while “The Blossom” announces the singer’s love of the world ever since his life has been saved, conjuring thoughts of God’s love for humanity pouring out of him without a direct statement of who it is that saved his life.

I find the overall effect of June and the Well too calm for my thrash-trained ears, but there is a beauty here that I can’t help but recognize. Even when the calm music doesn’t enthuse me, I find myself pausing to take in the lyrics. I’ve even found myself absentmindedly singing a song or two. Check it out if you need something a little more soothing in your speakers.