Just Like Honey - The Weight Of The Stars
JUST LIKE HONEY - 'THE WEIGHT OF THE STARS'
Just Like Honey is a band whose name is indicative of their music – radiant, gilded in scrumptious colors, and oh, so tasty. They recently dropped a new album, entitled The Weight Of The Stars. And it’s a doozy.
Just Like Honey
The creation of Patrick Le Mar, Just Like Honey is made up of Darlene Jonasson (lead vocals, guitar, mandolin), Bianca Yang (lead vocals, bass, piano), Steve Le Mar (drums, percussion), and Patrick (guitars, bass, backing vocals). With a sound reviewers like to call dream pop or shoegaze, descriptive terms the band calls into question, Just Like Honey’s music enfolds a vast array of stylistic influences, ranging from the aforementioned dream pop to alt-rock and even So-Cal soft rock with filaments of alt-country running through it.
Encompassing a dozen tracks, the album opens with the appropriately named “Intro,” a gleaming pop instrumental with flavors of dream pop. I love the brilliant skintight guitar tones on this tune, as well as the overall momentum of the harmonics. “The Strangest Boy” rides a smooth, scrumptious pop melody laced with dazzling jangly guitars atop the flat slap of Steve Le Mar’s snare drum. This song conjures up nostalgias of The Byrds, only more sophisticated, more sumptuous, and with more sonic oomph.
The gorgeous “Giant” discharges sparks of luminescence from metallic-flavored riffs, as Jonasson’s divine voice glides overhead. Listen carefully to the bass line and marvel at Yang’s feel and technique.
Jonasson’s voice calls out for special attention. It’s one of those ethereal voices, rife with logarithmic spirals of color, wicked sonority, and a frisson of velvety delight.
Subjectively, not-to-be-missed tracks include “Feels The Same,” which provides an undulating slo-mo impetus on reverb-heavy guitars. Jonasson’s beatific voice, creamy, crystalline, and indulgent, is the highlight, securing the song’s hypnotic allure. “Golden Glow,” reminiscent of The Cranberries with muscle, simmers with glistening colors. Infused with haunting timbres, Jonasson’s voice throws a mandala of pigmented tones across the panorama.
The rhythmic movement of “Wild Things” immediately captivates, as the harmonics shift from light to buff resonance, yet always enveloped in scintillating colors. On the solo, textured layers of guitars provide glossy textures of sublime lushness, like opulent sonic finery.
“Frail” delivers cap-a-pie luscious sensations, full of nonchalant buoyancy. Shimmering guitars and Yang’s running bass inject the tune with soft, breathy pressure coalescing into insanely exquisite energy. This song is irresistibly yummy.
Jonasson’s voice calls for special attention. It’s one of those ethereal voices, rife with logarithmic spirals of color, wicked sonority, and a frisson of velvety delight. In short, it’s enchanting, like an alternate, benevolent version of the Sirens of Anthemoessa, luring listeners into the Empyrean.
The Weight Of The Stars is superb, and should grace countless best album of the year lists. Just Like Honey is nonpareil.
