If It's Too Loud...

Photo via Facebook We seem to be getting more and more enamoured with Heather Valley with every release. As we're also overly into cover songs, we've been heavily anticipating her upcoming covers album since we first heard about it in August. The album still isn't out yet, but we do have a new single from it: A cover of Sheryl Crow's "If It Makes You Happy." Valley's version is a faithful cover in that it's the same basic genre of adult contemporary Americana. That's really where the similarities end. The cover is a completely stripped to bare bones version. It's quiet and haunting instead of Crow's boisterous and uplifting version. It includes two other musicians on steel guitar and bass, but somehow it feels like even less than that.  You can listen to Heather Valley's take on "If It Makes You Happy" below. Wildflower Radio  may still not have a release date, but it's still one of our most anticipated of the year. For mo...

Jason Molina is Heather Valley's biggest musical influence, so if she's going to release a covers album, she is almost obligated to include a Jason Molina song. She's chosen "Whip Poor Will" from Songs: Ohia's 2003 album Magnolia Electric Co and Magnolia Electric Co.'s 2009 album Josephine.  Valley does a wonderful job with her version of "Whip Poor Will." While hers may be a little more straightforward folk/country than the original, she perfectly melds the two versions into one that is all her own. It also brings a new quality to Valley's voice. While her singing has always been one of the main draws of her music, it's particularly captivating here. Heather Valley says of the song:  "Jason was an Ohio singer songwriter who performed as Songs: Ohia and Magnolia Electric Co during his prolific career. We lost him to depression in 2013, but his music remains as a beacon to help others get through the dark times. I love this song becau...

Back in March, Canadian roots artist Heather Valley was on a writing retreat in West Virginia when lockdown happened. When she was able to return home, she quarantined alone on a farm and started recording covers of some of her favorite songs. One of the most interesting is a cover of Lucero's "The Last Song." Ben Nichols's voice is notoriously gruff to an almost extreme level. Heather Valley's voice is the exact opposite, with a warm feeling it's impossible not to be drawn in by. Musically her cover of "The Last Song" keeps the gruff feeling by dropping Valley's normal rootsy, Americana sound with a whining rock guitar solo that lasts the entire length of the song, provided by Matty Simpson. The result is this combination that shouldn't work at all, but ends up melding together perfectly. You can listen to Heather Valley's version of "The Last Song" below. Wildflower Radio , the upcoming album from Heather Valley, will be out i...

Picture via Facebook Heather Valley is one of our favorite new musical discoveries of the past year. She has her own unique spin on modern folk/Americana that works for us. Her new single continues the streak of killer songs. For her cover of Tom T. Hall's "How I Got to Memphis," Valley brings in Katey Morley for additional vocals. The song is a quiet folk song, with just the two voices and a softly strummed guitar. Although it's a soft and quiet song, it's pretty upbeat and almost fast paced. It's a lovely song that doesn't use any flourishes, but still sucks the listener in fully. "How I Got to Memphis" has such perfect harmonies that Valley and Morley's vocals almost completely blend into one. You can listen to "How I Got to Memphis" below. It will be included on Heather Valley's upcoming album, Wildflower Radio , due out this Fall. For more on Heather Valley, check her out on Facebook and Twitter .

Heather Valley's 2019 album Desert Message  came out of nowhere and won us over. We couldn't help but get sucked in by her timeless yet somehow unique blend of folk and country. Now, she's back with an upcoming quarantine album of covers (one of the only good things to come of this year) and one original. This original, "Emily," is a gorgeously stripped down folk song. Valley's slightly above a whisper vocals give this song an intensely intimate and personal feel, which fits everything about it. Heather Valley explains "Emily" and her upcoming album: "In March, I was on a writing retreat in West Virginia when the borders were closed. I drove home to Canada and quarantined at a haunted farm. It was lonely living on 200 acres alone, so I started playing covers of my favorite songs for comfort, and overcome by nostalgia, I remembered Emily. When I was young, Emily cared for me one summer, and brought me to the lake in my hometown o...

Artist : Carmel Liburdi Album : Yes! We're Open! Quick Description : Smart, fun folk music. Why You Should Listen : Liburdi knows how to make you feel like she's singing directly to you in a way few others can. Overall Thoughts : I was turned onto this folk artist less than a week ago, and her 2017 EP brought a smile to my face. Turns out she has a new album out and guess what: it’s great! It’s fairly straightforward narrative folk, and this is the type of coffeehouse delivery that might be a turnoff to some audiences, but I fell in love with it right away. If you’re not charmed by this, I might have to ask whether your heart is encased in ice. Recommendation : She could become your new favorite folkie. Artist : Georgia Maq Album : Pleaser Quick Description : Folk music with plenty of modern amenities. Why You Should Listen : This will surprise you over and over again. Overall Thoughts : This is a really interesting listen. Also a folk record at its core, the up...

Last month we called Heather Valley's single "Lovejoy" to be the height of country. And that was true based on lyrical content, although her indie/country blend is hardly traditional. Her latest single, "Ohio River," is even further than traditional country. Sure, the song has some strong country elements, but it's closer to the Pixies with a quiet dream pop chorus juxtaposed with some heavy grunge guitar filled choruses.  According to a press release:  "The song is set on February 14, 2018. Valley was in Cincinnati recording. They would wake up late in the afternoon, travel to the studio in an abandoned factory in the North End by dusk, record for hours, and walk the abandoned streets after that. The Ohio River had flooded. The flags were at half mast in mourning over Stoneman Douglas High School Shooting. It was a time of fantasy and infatuation. She had to leave the next day but wanted to hold on to the night." You can watch the video for ...

The first single from Heather Valley's debut album might not have the most traditionally country sound ever, but the subject matter is the height of country. According to Valley, "Lovejoy"... " tells the tale of my reunion with the love of my life, who turned out to be a conman.  He came up to Buffalo and I drove down from Canada, the two of us meeting in a neighbourhood called Lovejoy. Everything seemed perfect.  It wasn’t until he was arrested at the border in front of me that I discovered the truth - he was a fugitive from justice from Louisiana carrying on multiple lives." Musically, the song has a little too much of a sheen on it to be traditional country, but instead it feels like a more modern version of country hits of the 70's. You can watch the video for "Lovejoy" below. Desert Message , the debut album from Heather Valley, will be out November 22. For more on Heather Valley, check her out on Facebook and Twitter .