My regular readers, all 12 of you, know that my heart holds a special place for two kinds of music: Hip hop and Americana. So the new album by Valeria June is perfect for me. It bridges both genres, and adds a nice helping of the kind of quirky R&B that Macy Gray does so well.
I don’t think there’s a single song on here that will immediately jump out and grab you. There’s almost no hooks. (With some exceptions, like “Shakedown”.) Instead, each song builds, gradually, getting stronger as it moves forward, able to carry its own weight. Each song feels Holy, true, and personal.
This is not an album to put on in the background. It’s one you need to really listen to, be immersed in, and emerge clean.
