Tuesday, June 11, 2013

Valerie June, Where Have You Been All My Life?




Already out in the U.K., with an August release date for the U.S., Valerie June's "Pushin' Against A Stone" has been quietly knocking me out for the last two days.

With three records already under her belt, two of them recorded in her birthplace of Memphis at the legendary Ardent Studios, and none of them coming close to my radar before this weekend, Valerie June may be on the verge of something huge with this new release, co-produced by Dan Auerbach of The Black Keys and Kevin Augunas of Florence & The Machine fame.

Get inside this record. These songs, the arrangements and the attack, are big. "Pushin' Against The Stone" is full of heart, soul and sadness, and simply fantastic.

Country blues, folk, gospel and Memphis soul are all represented here and Valerie June sounds like she's been doing them all for her whole life.

Take a look.








10 comments:

Ken D said...

I love "You Can't Be Told"; "Working Woman" a little less. But if Dan Auerbach is in charge, I'm definitely interested.
But is that the album art? With the Rihanna glam-girl makeup and earrings and gown? Like that hairstyle is trademark enough? I smell a misguded marketing push...

Sunshine54 said...

Saw Valerie June tunes on a wall post of a friend, I am in AWE~must see live~could listen to her and band all night long.

buzzbabyjesus said...

Promising. I like "You Can't Be Told".

soundsource said...

i guess i should listen to all that stuff i download once in a while
thank mr wood

Duardo said...

@$%^#%% GEMA!

Anonymous said...

Thank you, Sal! If I had ever heard of her, I wasn't paying attention. Love the clips you posted, didn't know anyone was making music like this. Am off now to find some more.

Jerry Lee said...

She sounds a lot like Jessie Mae Hemphill and that's alright. Looks like she hangs out with some good people too. Thanks Sal, I want to hear more.

ReelMusic said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReelMusic said...

Thanks, Sal, for posting these. I'm guessing that Concord has been aggressive in getting the word out on her -- album is scheduled for August apparently -- as Vin Scelsa also played a couple of tracks by her on this weekend's Idiots Delight.

Sal Nunziato said...

Not aggressive enough. Record is already out in the UK. Good price for the English vinyl if anyone cares. $17