{"title":"Valerie June","description":"\u003cp\u003eBlending folk, soul, blues, and traditional Appalachian elements into a refreshingly timeless sound that sits outside any particular musical era, Valerie June is a critically acclaimed singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist who began her career in Memphis, Tennessee. She received some early attention for a pair of independent releases and her participation in the 2009 MTV series $5 Cover, but it was her Dan Auerbach-produced third album, Pushin' Against a Stone, that served as both her critical and commercial breakthrough. With a significant audience in Europe as well as the U.S., June's ascent continued with 2017's highly rated The Order of Time, another critically lauded release showcasing her increasingly distinctive sound. Her fifth album, 2021's The Moon and Stars: Prescriptions for Dreamers, featured a guest spot from Memphis soul legend Carla Thomas, and she paid tribute to her roots with the 2022 covers EP Under Cover.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe daughter of a brick cleaner from Humboldt in the flatlands of West Tennessee, June quickly took to the various local roots music styles in the area, teaching herself guitar and developing her own stylistic mix, interpreting traditional material as though it were still alive and breathing, and writing her own material with an eye toward the influences of passionate and socially minded songwriters like Bob Marley. She officially began performing at the age of 19 as half of the husband-and-wife duo Bella Sun (the couple released an album, No Crystal Stair, in 2004 on their own Bella Sun Music imprint), but when the marriage fell apart, June left the South and began living the life of a gypsy street musician, playing for change in bus and subway stations up and down the West Coast. She eventually returned to Tennessee, finally settling in Memphis where she slid right into the city's active music scene. By now she had added banjo and lap steel to her musical base, and she began to draw local attention for her powerful performances, becoming a favorite at area folk festivals and workshops.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eShe recorded two albums, The Way of the Weeping Willow and Mountain of Rose Quartz, at the legendary Ardent Studios in Memphis, but she really came to national attention when she was featured, along with rappers Al Kapone, Muck Sticky, and other musicians, in the MTV web series $5 Cover (put together by Craig Brewer, the creator of the movie Hustle \u0026amp; Flow), which followed Memphis musicians as they scrambled to pay the rent, fall in and out of love, and yes, play music in one of the most storied musical cities in the world. The series aired early in 2009, giving June and her music a platform for wider exposure. Using the publicity from the series, June went on to record the 2010 EP Valerie June \u0026amp; the Tennessee Express with the Old Crow Medicine Show. A move to Brooklyn from Memphis and an introduction to Dan Auerbach (the Black Keys) put into motion the recording of her third studio album, Pushin' Against a Stone. With her singles on heavy rotation on European radio and a support slot with British singer\/songwriter Jake Bugg, June's popularity continued to rise upon the album's 2013 release. Critics praised her originality and ability to shift comfortably between different styles and tones. June continued to tour over the next few years while writing and recording the material for her next release, which she recorded with producer Matt Marinelli. Released in 2017, The Order of Time was an even greater critical breakout which charted across multiple Billboard charts and landed on several prominent best-of 2017 lists. She even earned praise from Bob Dylan, who named June one of the contemporary artists he'd been listening to. Her next release came in the form of a semi-mystical three-song suite called \"Stay,\" which appeared near the end of 2020. The release would go on to form the opening of her third album, the Jack Splash (John Legend, Alicia Keys)-produced Moon and Stars: Prescriptions for Dreamers.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePreceded by the Carla Thomas duet \"Call Me a Fool,\" which snagged a Grammy nomination for Best American Roots Song, Moon and Stars: Prescriptions for Dreamers was issued in March 2021. The following August, June released Under Cover, which contained her interpretations of songs by Nick Drake, Mazzy Star, Bob Dylan, Gillian Welch, and Nick Cave. ~ Steve Leggett, Rovi\u003c\/p\u003e","products":[{"product_id":"valerie-june-under-cover-magenta-red-lp","title":"Under Cover [Magenta Red LP]","description":"\u003cp\u003eUnder Cover [Magenta Red LP] is a Records \u0026amp; LPs from Valerie June\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eGenre: Pop\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eFormat: Vinyl\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eReleased: 8\/26\/2022\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e","brand":"Valerie June","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":44582488670441,"sku":"ECHYA9-TOR6-00","price":31.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0654\/3523\/8633\/files\/Valerie-June-Under-Cover-Magenta-Red-LP_SVE4w.jpg?v=1759420574"},{"product_id":"valerie-june-the-moon-and-stars-prescriptions-for-dreamers-lp","title":"| The Moon And Stars: Prescriptions For Dreamers (LP)","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size:12px;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;\"\u003eProduced by Jack Splash (Kendrick Lamar, Alicia Keys, John Legend) and Valerie June, the new album The Moon and Stars: Prescriptions for Dreamers achieves a transcendent effect thanks in no small part to the splendor of its sound, an exquisitely composed tapestry of folk, soul, gospel, country, blues, psychedelia, and time-bending symphonic pop. The result is a selection of songs both ornate and elegant, each moment crafted with a profound awareness of what’s most essential in creating enduring beauty. The follow-up to Valerie June’s widely adored The Order of Time—a 2017 effort that earned the admiration of Bob Dylan and landed on best-of-the-year lists from the likes of Rolling Stone and the New York Times— The Moon and Stars: Prescriptions for Dreamers is a potent catalyst for that kind of magic. With her spellbinding vocals and infectious sense of wonder, Valerie June gently eases the listener into a far more charmed state of mind, one that quickly restores a powerful feeling of joyful possibility.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size:12px;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;\"\u003eTracklist\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size:12px;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;\"\u003eA1        Stay\u003cbr\u003e\r\nA2        Stay Meditation\u003cbr\u003e\r\nA3        You And I\u003cbr\u003e\r\nA4        Colors\u003cbr\u003e\r\nA5        Stardust Scattering\u003cbr\u003e\r\nA6        African Proverb\u003cbr\u003e\r\nA7        Call Me A Fool\u003cbr\u003e\r\nB1        Fallin'\u003cbr\u003e\r\nB2        Smile\u003cbr\u003e\r\nB3        Within You\u003cbr\u003e\r\nB4        Two Roads\u003cbr\u003e\r\nB5        Why The Bright Stars Glow\u003cbr\u003e\r\nB6        Home Inside\u003cbr\u003e\r\nB7        Starlight Ethereal Silence\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size:12px;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;\"\u003e*Audio and\/or tracklist may vary slightly from the vinyl version.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size:12px;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;\"\u003eLabel: Fantasy\u003cbr\u003e\r\nRel. Date: 03\/19\/2021\u003cbr\u003e\r\nUPC: 888072214750\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ciframe allow=\"autoplay *; encrypted-media *; fullscreen *; clipboard-write\" frameborder=\"0\" height=\"450\" sandbox=\"allow-forms allow-popups allow-same-origin allow-scripts allow-storage-access-by-user-activation allow-top-navigation-by-user-activation\" src=\"https:\/\/embed.music.apple.com\/us\/album\/the-moon-and-stars-prescriptions-for-dreamers\/1544143084\" style=\"width:100%;max-width:660px;overflow:hidden;border-radius:10px;\"\u003e\u003c\/iframe\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eFormat Detail: LP\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eGenre: Soul\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eFormat: Vinyl\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eReleased: 03\/19\/2021\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e","brand":"Valerie June","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":44587324047593,"sku":"C22R42-2XLD-00","price":32.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0654\/3523\/8633\/files\/Valerie-June-The-Moon-And-Stars-Prescriptions-For-Dreamers-LP_K7B7b.jpg?v=1742432631"},{"product_id":"valerie-june-the-moon-and-stars-prescriptions-for-dreamers-colored-vinyl-white-indie-exclusive","title":"The Moon And Stars: Prescriptions For Dreamers (Colored Vinyl, White, Indie Exclusive)","description":"The follow-up to Valerie June's, The Order of Time - a 2017 effort that earned the admiration of Bob Dylan \u0026amp; landed on best-of-the-year lists from the likes of Rolling Stone - The Moon and Stars: Prescriptions for Dreamers is a potent catalyst for that kind of magic. With her spellbinding vocals \u0026amp; infectious sense of wonder, June gently eases the listener into a far more charmed state of mind, one that quickly restores a powerful feeling of joyful possibility. Indie Exclusive. Opaque White LP\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eGenre: Pop\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eFormat: Vinyl\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eReleased: 03\/19\/2021\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e","brand":"Valerie June","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":44588337725673,"sku":"2M71J5-BF1L-00","price":32.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0654\/3523\/8633\/files\/Valerie-June-The-Moon-And-Stars-Prescriptions-For-Dreamers-Colored-Vinyl-White-Indie-Exclusive_COO7F.jpg?v=1759067880"},{"product_id":"valerie-june-the-moon-and-stars-prescriptions-for-dreamers","title":"The Moon And Stars: Prescriptions For Dreamers","description":"Embargo until 01\/22\/2021\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eGenre: Pop\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eFormat: CD\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eReleased: 03\/12\/2021\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e","brand":"Valerie June","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":44588810174697,"sku":"ADABBI-PDV8-00","price":21.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0654\/3523\/8633\/files\/valerie-june-the-moon-and-stars-prescriptions-for-dreamers_dMT3m.jpg?v=1759067693"},{"product_id":"valerie-june-order-of-time-lp","title":"ORDER OF TIME (LP)","description":"Following up her critically lauded 2013 label debut, Pushin' Against a Stone, Tennessean Valerie June offers The Order of Time, an ethereal dream sequence of Americana and roots music filtered through her own unique tendencies. What's refreshing about June is her gift for nuance, working unhurriedly through tones of Appalachian folk, gospel, blues, and even dream pop without feeling the need to hit listeners over the head with an overwrought delivery or even draw that much attention to her own stylistic diversity. With The Order of Time, she exudes the languid pace of the South with poetic songs and spacy arrangements that breeze out through the screen door. Though crowded with standouts, it's an album best enjoyed in full with a sequence that ebbs and flows with emotion and hidden intentions. From the sweet and slow nostalgia of \"Long Lonely Road\" to the droning enchantments of \"If And\" and the gently rousing dream-soul of \"Got Soul,\" June weaves her strange and inviting spell, making it all seem so nonchalant. Her relaxed vocal style is distinctive and the frequent doubling of her vocal lines gives the songs a strangely alluring vibe amid the expansive organ, piano, and guitar parts. Where the slightly showier Pushin' Against a Stone covered a wider variety of styles, The Order of Time tends to flow more smoothly and gives the feeling that you've stumbled on a 45-minute section of ongoing music that has no beginning and no end. ~ Timothy Monger\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eGenre: Pop\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eFormat: Vinyl\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eReleased: 3\/10\/2017\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e","brand":"Valerie June","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":44594647073001,"sku":"FDGFJP-U3I0-00","price":30.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0654\/3523\/8633\/files\/valerie-june-order-of-time-lp_tLeef.jpg?v=1759125548"},{"product_id":"valerie-june-pushin-against-a-lp","title":"PUSHIN' AGAINST A-LP","description":"Pushin' Against a Stone, Valerie June's Concord debut, is the fruit of over a decade of dues paying by the native Tennessean after three self-released \"bootleg\" recordings. While her music is steeped in various musical traditions of the South -- blues, black and country gospel, soul, and Appalachian folk -- she combines them so idiosyncratically, with canny production from Kevin Agunas and Dan Auerbach, that they openly embrace the possibilities of pop. June's instantly recognizable voice is big and reedy; standing firmly out front here, it falls in a lineage line between Eartha Kitt and Erykah Badu, with hints of the young Esther Phillips and even Dolly Parton. (For examples of the latter, check the string band waltz \"Tennessee Time\" or the world-weary folk narrative \"Twined \u0026amp; Twisted.\") While tradition is paramount in June's songs, it includes the present, making her the antithesis of a purist. Check opener \"Workin' Woman Blues,\" where a skittering drumkit underscores urgent acoustic guitars, a funky bassline, and a jazzy, bumping, funky trumpet (reminiscent of Blue Mitchell) in a droning, griot-like blues. \"The Hour\" borrows the intro and outro from \"I Put a Spell on You,\" and points to the darkness in the lyrics of the second verse. Yet the rest of the tune is a hybrid of early-'60s girl group pop and soul, complete with three-part harmony and a swelling B-3. That intro also makes its presence felt on the title track, adorned with wailing, fuzzed-out electric guitar atop a B-3 pulse, and June's delivery moves through Ray Charles' informed soul and Thomas A. Dorsey-infused gospel in the backing chorus. The only cover here is Estil C. Ball's \"Trials, Troubles, Tribulations.\" It's an acoustic guitar and vocal duet (with Auerbach) that comes right out of the Carter Family but sounds contemporary. \"Wanna Be on Your Mind,\" with its Rhodes piano and June's emphatic phrasing, references Phillips' early-'70s jazz-blues style. \"Somebody to Love\" is a ukulele and fiddle waltz, but it is soul, treated and gospelized by June's vocal and Booker T. Jones' organ. The single \"You Can't Be Told\" is a swampy blues with Jimbo Mathus on lead guitar that recalls R.L. Burnside in instrumentation, but June's delivery and her four-part call-and-response backing chorus make it a hypnotic, swaying groover. \"Shotgun\" features the songwriter accompanied only by her own bottleneck guitar offering a murder ballad. Its presentation is so subtle and smooth, it becomes jarring when the listener takes in the lyric. Despite her slippery blend of styles, June's songs on Pushin' Against a Stone reveal there is one historical place she doesn't deviate from: the storyteller's, a Southern hallmark. Despite being a shade too long, this is a solid endeavor that asks many questions even as spins its tales. ~ Thom Jurek\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eGenre: Pop\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eFormat: Vinyl\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eReleased: 08\/13\/2013\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e","brand":"Valerie June","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":44594849251561,"sku":"XXOQ9R-AO9M-00","price":33.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0654\/3523\/8633\/files\/valerie-june-pushin-against-a-lp_p0DkQ.jpg?v=1758975962"}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0654\/3523\/8633\/collections\/image_4c67b543-a2ba-4fc6-98dc-af6a2d4d3940.jpg?v=1708806302","url":"https:\/\/www.vibinvinyl.com\/collections\/valerie-june.oembed","provider":"Vibin' Vinyl","version":"1.0","type":"link"}