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Valerie June is the true embodiment of the music of Memphis, her hometown: soul, blues, gospel, folk, country. She calls hers "organic moonshine roots music," and sure, why not? She's collaborated with everyone from Eric Church to Meshell Ndegeocello to rapper John Forté, but never acts like a chameleon to fit their genres; if anything, it would be almost impossible. After all, June's voice is a singular force—reedy, elastic, touched with that distinct West Tennessee twang, highly emotive. It is not a thing of traditional beauty, and yet the quality of her voice is incredibly beautiful (albeit very much a love-it-or-hate-it situation). It is mesmerizing on the old-school soul of "Call Me a Fool"—a track worthy of Otis Redding or Sam Cooke, and featuring the iconic Carla Thomas; June warbles and growls and hits some note way up the atmosphere while the horns swoon and sway. There's an appealing retro feel, too, to opener "Stay," with its marching drums and strings arranged by none other than Lester Snell, a Stax session legend who brought richness to the songs of Al Green and Isaac Hayes. June merges gospel and doo-wop for "You and I" and incorporates what sounds like pedal steel into the bottom-heavy classic soul of "Two Roads." The singer firmly places herself in the company of contemporaries Cat Power and Brittany Howard with the moving, high lonesome sounds of "Colors," and keeps it nice and easy on the sun-dappled "Fallin." She sounds almost ghostly leaning into a nervous hip-hop beat on "Within You"; the delivery of lines like "The body cannot ho-o-o-o-old" sends shivers. When those Snell strings kick in, followed by a child-like choir, it's majestic. June has said the glorious "Smile" was inspired by watching footage of old civil rights marches. As the drums and bass bounce and June sings, "Well I dust it off, yes I get back up...all I can do is smile" to a faint melodic echo of "The Locomotion," the message is clear: Even if someone else owns your misery, they can't own your joy. This is true Americana. © Shelly Ridenour/Qobuz
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Ryan Spraker, Bass Guitar, Electric Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Jack Splash, Producer, Drums, Percussion, Piano, Recording Engineer, Synthesizer, Recording Producer, AssociatedPerformer, StudioPersonnel - Ian Mercel, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - David Chiverton, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Jonathan Kirkscey, Cello, AssociatedPerformer - Carlos Guzman, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Valerie June, Producer, Acoustic Guitar, Vocals, Recording Producer, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Humberto Ibarra, Percussion, AssociatedPerformer - Jennifer Puckett, Viola, AssociatedPerformer - Dave Sherman, Piano, AssociatedPerformer - Dan Iead, Electric Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Dwayne Bennett, Piano, Synthesizer, AssociatedPerformer - Phil English, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Jessica Munson, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - Jason DiMatteo, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Scott Klarman, Flute, AssociatedPerformer - Andy Yu, Violin, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 2020 June Tunes Music, Inc.
Jack Splash, Producer, Recording Engineer, Recording Producer, StudioPersonnel - Ian Mercel, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Valerie June, Producer, Vocals, Recording Producer, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Phil English, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2020 June Tunes Music, Inc.
Wayne Perry, Trombone, AssociatedPerformer - Ryan Spraker, Bass Guitar, Electric Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Jack Splash, Producer, Drums, Percussion, Recording Engineer, Recording Producer, AssociatedPerformer, StudioPersonnel - Ian Mercel, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - David Chiverton, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Valerie June, Producer, Acoustic Guitar, Vocals, Recording Producer, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Humberto Ibarra, Percussion, AssociatedPerformer - Pete Remm, Mellotron, AssociatedPerformer - Greg Wieczorek, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Dave Sherman, Piano, AssociatedPerformer - Dan Iead, Electric Guitar, Pedal Steel, AssociatedPerformer - Dwayne Bennett, Hammond Organ, Synthesizer, AssociatedPerformer - Ted Zimmerman, Trumpet, AssociatedPerformer - Phil English, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Eric Escanes, Electric Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Jason DiMatteo, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Scott Klarman, Tenor Saxophone, Baritone Saxophone, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 2020 June Tunes Music, Inc.
Lester Snell, String Arranger, AssociatedPerformer - Jonathan Kirkscey, Cello, AssociatedPerformer - Valerie June, Producer, Banjo, Acoustic Guitar, Vocals, Recording Producer, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Josh Lattanzi, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Jennifer Puckett, Viola, AssociatedPerformer - Ben Rice, Producer, Recording Engineer, Drum Programming, Recording Producer, AssociatedPerformer, StudioPersonnel - Dan Iead, Acoustic Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Jessica Munson, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - Andy Yu, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - Charlie Culbert, Drums, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 2021 June Tunes Music, Inc.
Kaveh Rastegar, Electric Bass, AssociatedPerformer - Philip Lassiter, Trumpet, AssociatedPerformer - Jack Splash, Producer, Piano, Vibraphone, Recording Engineer, Recording Producer, AssociatedPerformer, StudioPersonnel - Davey Chegwidden, Percussion, AssociatedPerformer - Valerie June, Producer, Banjo, Acoustic Guitar, Electric Guitar, Vocals, Drum Programming, Recording Producer, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Justin Lucas, Banjo, Electric Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Leon Silva, Tenor Saxophone, Baritone Saxophone, AssociatedPerformer - Carlin White, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Phil English, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Alex Wasily, Trombone, AssociatedPerformer - Alfred Rutherford Jr., Hammond Organ, Mellotron, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 2021 June Tunes Music, Inc.
Carla Thomas, Vocals, FeaturedArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Jack Splash, Producer, Recording Engineer, Recording Producer, StudioPersonnel - Ian Mercel, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Valerie June, Producer, Vocals, Recording Producer, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Phil English, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2021 June Tunes Music, Inc.
Wayne Perry, Trombone, AssociatedPerformer - Carla Thomas, Background Vocalist, FeaturedArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Jack Splash, Producer, Piano, Recording Engineer, Synthesizer, Recording Producer, AssociatedPerformer, StudioPersonnel - Lester Snell, String Arranger, AssociatedPerformer - Ian Mercel, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - David Chiverton, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Jonathan Kirkscey, Cello, AssociatedPerformer - Carlos Guzman, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Valerie June, Producer, Acoustic Guitar, Vocals, Recording Producer, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Greg Wieczorek, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Jennifer Puckett, Viola, AssociatedPerformer - Dave Sherman, Hammond Organ, Piano, AssociatedPerformer - Dan Iead, Electric Guitar, Pedal Steel, AssociatedPerformer - Dwayne Bennett, Keyboards, Hammond Organ, AssociatedPerformer - Ted Zimmerman, Trumpet, AssociatedPerformer - Phil English, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Eric Escanes, Electric Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Jessica Munson, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - Jason DiMatteo, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Scott Klarman, Tenor Saxophone, Baritone Saxophone, AssociatedPerformer - Andy Yu, Violin, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 2021 June Tunes Music, Inc.
Valerie June, Producer, Acoustic Guitar, Vocals, Recording Engineer, Recording Producer, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, StudioPersonnel, ComposerLyricist
℗ 2021 June Tunes Music, Inc.
Wayne Perry, Trombone, AssociatedPerformer - Ryan Spraker, Bass Guitar, Electric Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Jack Splash, Producer, Percussion, Recording Engineer, Synthesizer, Drum Programming, Recording Producer, AssociatedPerformer, StudioPersonnel - Lester Snell, String Arranger, AssociatedPerformer - Ian Mercel, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Jonathan Kirkscey, Cello, AssociatedPerformer - Valerie June, Producer, Acoustic Guitar, Vocals, Recording Producer, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Greg Wieczorek, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Jennifer Puckett, Viola, AssociatedPerformer - Dave Sherman, Hammond Organ, Piano, AssociatedPerformer - Dan Iead, Pedal Steel, AssociatedPerformer - Ted Zimmerman, Trumpet, AssociatedPerformer - Phil English, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Jessica Munson, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - Jason DiMatteo, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Scott Klarman, Tenor Saxophone, Baritone Saxophone, AssociatedPerformer - Andy Yu, Violin, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 2021 June Tunes Music, Inc.
Kaveh Rastegar, Upright Bass, AssociatedPerformer - Jack Splash, Producer, Recording Engineer, Recording Producer, StudioPersonnel - Lester Snell, String Arranger, AssociatedPerformer - Davey Chegwidden, Percussion, AssociatedPerformer - Jonathan Kirkscey, Cello, AssociatedPerformer - Valerie June, Producer, Acoustic Guitar, Electric Guitar, Vocals, Drum Programming, Recording Producer, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Justin Lucas, Banjo, AssociatedPerformer - Jennifer Puckett, Viola, AssociatedPerformer - Carlin White, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Phil English, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Jessica Munson, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - Andy Yu, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - Alfred Rutherford Jr., Organ, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 2021 June Tunes Music, Inc.
Valerie June, Producer, Acoustic Guitar, Vocals, Recording Producer, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Pete Remm, Hammond Organ, AssociatedPerformer - Greg Wieczorek, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Ben Rice, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Dave Sherman, Piano, AssociatedPerformer - Dan Iead, Pedal Steel, AssociatedPerformer - Jason DiMatteo, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 2021 June Tunes Music, Inc.
Wayne Perry, Trombone, AssociatedPerformer - Ryan Spraker, Electric Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Jack Splash, Producer, Electric Guitar, Piano, Recording Engineer, Synthesizer, Drum Programming, Recording Producer, AssociatedPerformer, StudioPersonnel - Lester Snell, String Arranger, AssociatedPerformer - Ian Mercel, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - David Chiverton, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Jonathan Kirkscey, Cello, AssociatedPerformer - Carlos Guzman, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Valerie June, Producer, Acoustic Guitar, Vocals, Drum Programming, Recording Producer, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Humberto Ibarra, Percussion, AssociatedPerformer - Jennifer Puckett, Viola, AssociatedPerformer - Dwayne Bennett, Keyboards, Piano, AssociatedPerformer - Ted Zimmerman, Trumpet, AssociatedPerformer - Phil English, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Eric Escanes, Electric Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Jessica Munson, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - Scott Klarman, Saxophone, AssociatedPerformer - Andy Yu, Violin, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 2021 June Tunes Music, Inc.
Kaveh Rastegar, Upright Bass, AssociatedPerformer - Philip Lassiter, Trumpet, AssociatedPerformer - Jack Splash, Producer, Recording Engineer, Recording Producer, StudioPersonnel - Lester Snell, String Arranger, AssociatedPerformer - Davey Chegwidden, Percussion, AssociatedPerformer - Jonathan Kirkscey, Cello, AssociatedPerformer - Valerie June, Producer, Acoustic Guitar, Vocals, Recording Producer, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Leon Silva, Saxophone, AssociatedPerformer - Jennifer Puckett, Viola, AssociatedPerformer - Carlin White, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Phil English, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Jessica Munson, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - Alex Wasily, Trombone, AssociatedPerformer - Andy Yu, Violin, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 2021 June Tunes Music, Inc.
Jack Splash, Producer, Piano, Recording Engineer, Synthesizer, Recording Producer, AssociatedPerformer, StudioPersonnel - Valerie June, Producer, Tibetan Bowl, Recording Producer, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Albert Allenback, Flute, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 2021 June Tunes Music, Inc.
Album review
Valerie June is the true embodiment of the music of Memphis, her hometown: soul, blues, gospel, folk, country. She calls hers "organic moonshine roots music," and sure, why not? She's collaborated with everyone from Eric Church to Meshell Ndegeocello to rapper John Forté, but never acts like a chameleon to fit their genres; if anything, it would be almost impossible. After all, June's voice is a singular force—reedy, elastic, touched with that distinct West Tennessee twang, highly emotive. It is not a thing of traditional beauty, and yet the quality of her voice is incredibly beautiful (albeit very much a love-it-or-hate-it situation). It is mesmerizing on the old-school soul of "Call Me a Fool"—a track worthy of Otis Redding or Sam Cooke, and featuring the iconic Carla Thomas; June warbles and growls and hits some note way up the atmosphere while the horns swoon and sway. There's an appealing retro feel, too, to opener "Stay," with its marching drums and strings arranged by none other than Lester Snell, a Stax session legend who brought richness to the songs of Al Green and Isaac Hayes. June merges gospel and doo-wop for "You and I" and incorporates what sounds like pedal steel into the bottom-heavy classic soul of "Two Roads." The singer firmly places herself in the company of contemporaries Cat Power and Brittany Howard with the moving, high lonesome sounds of "Colors," and keeps it nice and easy on the sun-dappled "Fallin." She sounds almost ghostly leaning into a nervous hip-hop beat on "Within You"; the delivery of lines like "The body cannot ho-o-o-o-old" sends shivers. When those Snell strings kick in, followed by a child-like choir, it's majestic. June has said the glorious "Smile" was inspired by watching footage of old civil rights marches. As the drums and bass bounce and June sings, "Well I dust it off, yes I get back up...all I can do is smile" to a faint melodic echo of "The Locomotion," the message is clear: Even if someone else owns your misery, they can't own your joy. This is true Americana. © Shelly Ridenour/Qobuz
About the album
- 1 disc(s) - 14 track(s)
- Total length: 00:44:22
- Main artists: Valerie June
- Composer: Valerie June
- Label: Fantasy
- Genre: Soul/Funk/R&B Soul
© 2021 June Tunes Music, Inc. ℗ 2021 June Tunes Music, Inc.
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