Justina Shandler -Three Leaf Clover

Justina Shandler

Three Leaf Clover
self-released; 2015

3.5 out of 5

By Jamie Funk
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Justina Shandler is an artist from Roanoke, VA who recently released a nine-song EP entitled Three Leaf Clover. At nine songs this could have easily qualified as an album. Either way over the nine songs you will have a good idea if this artist is your cup of tea. 

Shandler plays songs that you could picture coming from the speakers of Starbucks or being placed in an ad for the next IPhone. Whether she lays into the cutesy, everything is too good to be true vibe of “Good Guy” or the more reverent “Chicago Can Wait” the songs spew over an overt mainstream viability. In all honesty, these songs won’t resonate with fans of more niche genres. That being said if you can enjoy these extremely well produced songs that are catchy and won't leave you head, this will be for you.

After the snapping Feist vibe on “Good Guy” Shandler delivers one of her best songs entitled “The Mailman.” She strikes a good balance on this song. The music is great and has a bit of a Beatles-esque vibe while the singing is on point. “Outer Space” has the same over the top happy vibe of “Good Guys” although it’s slightly more jazzy and I thought the bass line was notable.

​“The Things We Buy” and “Emma” are more well written, heartfelt songs showcasing slightly different sides to Shandler. “Fuel” is a rock/pop ballad that has hit written all over it. In fact I can say that about each one of these songs. Shandler closes with thematic and grand “Shackles.”

One thing that became obvious to me after spending some time with this album is that Shandler is trying to get at least one of these songs to stick with a large demographic. She bounces around with slightly different styles and in doing so doesn’t completely cement her own sound. The style she chooses are at the tip of what the mainstream offers and will certainly be attractive to a lot of people.

Since there are many different shades Shandler showcases I suggest listening to this EP from beginning to end. If one song doesn’t hit you it’s very well possible the next might.

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