June

Do you remember back around mid-century, even into the 70s, when there were artists putting out music with the sole purpose of making you feel good? Or even if that wasn't the sole purpose, it was definitely the end result. That's how it is with Swan Dive and their June. It's an upbeat, uplifting collection of ditties reminiscent, so they say, of Burt Bacharach and Karen Carpenter. True enough. They've got some hmmmms, a few la-la-las, a couple of ba-dup ba-das. And with song titles like "Automatically Sunshine," "Kaleidoscope," and "Katydids," how can you doubt the joy that's going to unfold with every spin? Vocalist Molly Felder lends an additional air of light and loveliness. The other half, Bill DeMain, also sings and plays his heart out, and he co-wrote all of the songs, with the noted exception of "Moon River," which slips right in at the end without missing a beat. DeMain's writing partners include Boo Hewerdine, Marshall Crenshaw, and Jill Sobule, whose longtime producer Brad Jones holds the reigns on this one as well, giving it a similar feel to some of Sobule's finest moments. Even amidst the happy-go-lucky nature of it all, Swan Dive isn't afraid to throw in a handful of thoughtful ballads in "Go with Love," "Mountains," and "My Mistake." This is a great record if you're in the mood to be put in a good mood.