June of 44
Encyclopedia
June of 44 was an American
rock
band which was formed in 1994 from ex-members of Rodan
, Lungfish
, Rex
, and Hoover
. The band's music is often described as 'math rock
'. The band's name refers the period during which erotic fiction writers Henry Miller
and Anaïs Nin
corresponded.
The band toured extensively and reached as far as Australia. Often referred to as the punk rock pirates of the math rock world, June of 44 were a collective from 1994–2000. All the members were living in different cities at the time. This seminal band created music that ranged from experimental jazz
to ambient dub to angular post punk.
Debut album Engine Takes to the Water
(1995) drew comparisons with both Slint
and Will Oldham
. The following year's Tropics and Meridians
saw the band compared to Tortoise
and The For Carnation
. Drummer Doug Scharin had started HiM as a side project, which sometimes also featured bassist Fred Erskine, and Scharin also later started the avant-garde band Out in Worship. Meadows also had a side project, forming Sonora Pine with Tara Jane O'Neill. June of 44 released three further albums, incorporating more electronics and jazz influences, before the band split up in 1999, with Vocalist/guitarist Jeff Mueller forming Shipping News
and vocalist Sean Meadows forming Everlasting the Way and later Letter E. Erskine joined Abilene, while Scharin continued with HiM, also guesting with several other bands.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
rock
Rock music
Rock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music...
band which was formed in 1994 from ex-members of Rodan
Rodan (band)
Rodan was an American math/post-hardcore band in the early to mid 1990s. The best known lineup of the band consisted of Jeff Mueller , Jason Noble , Tara Jane O'Neil , and Kevin Coultas .-History:...
, Lungfish
Lungfish (band)
Lungfish is a post-hardcore band formed in 1987 in Baltimore, Maryland. All of their music has been released by the Washington, D.C. punk label Dischord except for their first LP, Necklace of Heads which was released by Simple Machines .Their line-up as of 2005 consists of Daniel Higgs , Asa...
, Rex
Rex (band)
Rex was an American Indie rock band formed in 1994 . Rex was considered one of the most important and influential slowcore bands and released three albums and one EP on Southern Records, as well as a collaboration with Red Red Meat on Perishable Records...
, and Hoover
Hoover (band)
Hoover was an American post-hardcore band from Washington, DC. Formed in 1992, Hoover went on to produce some of the more intense music to appear on the Dischord Records label in the 1990s...
. The band's music is often described as 'math rock
Math rock
Math rock is a rhythmically complex guitar-based style of experimental rock that emerged in the 1980s and that was very influenced by progressive rock like King Crimson, Frank Zappa, Henry Cow - and 20th century composers such as Steve Reich and John Cage...
'. The band's name refers the period during which erotic fiction writers Henry Miller
Henry Miller
Henry Valentine Miller was an American novelist and painter. He was known for breaking with existing literary forms and developing a new sort of 'novel' that is a mixture of novel, autobiography, social criticism, philosophical reflection, surrealist free association, and mysticism, one that is...
and Anaïs Nin
Anaïs Nin
Anaïs Nin was a French-Cuban author, based at first in France and later in the United States, who published her journals, which span more than 60 years, beginning when she was 11 years old and ending shortly before her death, her erotic literature, and short stories...
corresponded.
The band toured extensively and reached as far as Australia. Often referred to as the punk rock pirates of the math rock world, June of 44 were a collective from 1994–2000. All the members were living in different cities at the time. This seminal band created music that ranged from experimental jazz
Jazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
to ambient dub to angular post punk.
Debut album Engine Takes to the Water
Engine Takes to the Water
Engine Takes To The Water is the debut album by Louisville-based math rock band June of 44.-Track listing:# "Have a Safe Trip, Dear" - 8:25# "June Miller" - 3:27# "Pale Horse Sailor" - 3:35# "Mindel" - 3:25# "I Get My Kicks for You" - 6:55...
(1995) drew comparisons with both Slint
Slint
Slint was an American rock band consisting of Brian McMahan , David Pajo , Britt Walford , Todd Brashear and Ethan Buckler...
and Will Oldham
Will Oldham
Will Oldham , better known by the stage name Bonnie 'Prince' Billy, is an American singer-songwriter and actor. From 1993 to 1997, he performed and recorded under variations of the Palace name, including the Palace Brothers, Palace Songs, and Palace Music...
. The following year's Tropics and Meridians
Tropics and Meridians
Tropics and Meridians is the second album by Louisville-based math rock band June of 44.-Track listing:# "Anisette" - 9:17# "Lusitania" - 2:50# "Lawn Bowler" - 7:45# "June Leaf" - 5:10# "Arms Over Arteries" - 6:31# "Sanctioned in a Birdcage" - 5:12...
saw the band compared to Tortoise
Tortoise (band)
Tortoise is an American post-rock band formed in Chicago, Illinois, in 1990.-Music:Tortoise's almost entirely instrumental music defies easy categorization, and the group gained significant attention from their early career. The members have roots in Chicago's fertile music scene, playing in...
and The For Carnation
The For Carnation
The For Carnation are a post-rock band from Louisville, Kentucky who formed in 1994. The band was formed by Brian McMahan, who is the only constant group member. McMahan's previous band Slint hinted at the distinctive sound and sombre aesthetic he would create in The For Carnation...
. Drummer Doug Scharin had started HiM as a side project, which sometimes also featured bassist Fred Erskine, and Scharin also later started the avant-garde band Out in Worship. Meadows also had a side project, forming Sonora Pine with Tara Jane O'Neill. June of 44 released three further albums, incorporating more electronics and jazz influences, before the band split up in 1999, with Vocalist/guitarist Jeff Mueller forming Shipping News
Shipping News
Shipping News is an American post-rock/post-hardcore band. The group formed in the fall of 1996 when members Jason Noble and Jeff Mueller, who were both in Rodan, collaborated to create music for the Chicago-based syndicated National Public Radio program This American Life. Kyle Crabtree was later...
and vocalist Sean Meadows forming Everlasting the Way and later Letter E. Erskine joined Abilene, while Scharin continued with HiM, also guesting with several other bands.
Members
- Fred Erskine - bass guitar
- Sean Meadows - vocals, guitar
- Jeff Mueller - vocals, guitar
- Doug Scharin - drums
Albums
- Engine Takes To The WaterEngine Takes to the WaterEngine Takes To The Water is the debut album by Louisville-based math rock band June of 44.-Track listing:# "Have a Safe Trip, Dear" - 8:25# "June Miller" - 3:27# "Pale Horse Sailor" - 3:35# "Mindel" - 3:25# "I Get My Kicks for You" - 6:55...
(1995), Quarterstick - Tropics and MeridiansTropics and MeridiansTropics and Meridians is the second album by Louisville-based math rock band June of 44.-Track listing:# "Anisette" - 9:17# "Lusitania" - 2:50# "Lawn Bowler" - 7:45# "June Leaf" - 5:10# "Arms Over Arteries" - 6:31# "Sanctioned in a Birdcage" - 5:12...
(1996), Quarterstick - Four Great PointsFour Great PointsFour Great Points is the third album by American math rock band June of 44.-Track listing:# "Of Information & Belief" - 6:57# "The Dexterity of Luck" - 6:09# "Cut Your Face" - 3:49# "Doomsday" - 4:20# "Does Your Heart Beat Slower" - 4:22...
(1998), Quarterstick - AnahataAnahata (album)Anahata is the fourth and final album by Louisville-based math rock band June of 44.-Track listing:# "Wear Two Eyes " - 4:52# "Escape of the Levitational Trapeze Artist" - 4:41# "Cardiac Atlas" - 5:08# "Equators to Bi-Polar" - 6:10...
(1999), Quarterstick - In the Fishtank 6In the Fishtank 6In the Fishtank 6 is the recording of a live session in a Dutch studio by Louisville-based math rock band June of 44.-Track listing:# "Pregenerate" # "Generate" # "Henry's Revenge" # "Modern Hereditary Dance Steps"...
(1999), Konkurrent
Singles, EPs
- The Anatomy of SharksThe Anatomy of SharksThe Anatomy of Sharks is an EP by Louisville-based math rock band June of 44.-Track listing:# "Sharks & Sailors" - 11:15# "Boom" - 4:58# "Seemingly Endless Steamer" - 6:34...
(1997 EP), Quarterstick - "South East Boston" / "Dexterity of Luck" (live) (2001), B-Core