Val Storey’s second full-length album Share Your Secrets with Me continues the vocalist’s upward climb in Nashville music circles. It has, however, a far broader appeal. Producer Larry Cordle has helped Storey define her art as inclusive rather than tailoring her presentation for a narrow though devoted audience. Share Your Secrets with Me’s thirteen tracks do not confine themselves to traditional Nashville fare; Storey leans on stalwart country songwriters such as Emmylou Harris and Nanci Griffith but likewise branches out into pure pop with covers of Hoagy Carmichael and The Beatles. The collection, taken as a whole, testifies to the terrific range Storey possesses and her growing abilities as an interpreter.
URL: https://valstoreysings.com/
“Songbird” ushers listeners into her poetic and pristine musical world. It’s full of concrete details that listeners can latch onto, and Storey evokes those images with a firm grip on her dramatic talents. Keen-eared singers can bring songwriting to life with minimal histrionics and Storey provides us with numerous examples of that in her recording output. “Love at the Five and Dime”, an iconic track from Nanci Griffith, receives similar treatment. Sharon White’s supporting vocals couple well with Storey’s voice and White’s husband Ricky Skaggs makes important contributions to the cut as well.
“Slow and Sad” has light jazzy overtones without ever totally committing itself in that direction. She summons the air of a stylish chanteuse for this performance without ever succumbing to stylistic excesses along the way. Scattered backing vocals add a near-ghostly ambiance to the performance and underline the melancholy at the heart of the song. “Old Heartaches” is pure classic country in construction and intent, but sounds modern nonetheless. Much of the reason why is because Storey keeps an even balance between retro affectations and a contemporary approach that helps shape the song in such a way.
“I’ve Just Seen a Face” reimagines the Beatles as propulsive bluegrass and the youthful energy inherent in this song is something she builds on with great skill. Every musical element is in place and it’s remarkable how, given its rambunctious pace, the performance never feels rushed. Her cover almost completely obscures the early rock sensibilities of The Beatles’ original without ever dispensing entirely with their template.
APPLE MUSIC: https://music.apple.com/us/album/share-your-secrets-with-me/1685235012
She further shows her remarkable flexibility with “Skylark”. Choosing a venerable Hoagy Carmichael/Johnny Mercer written pop standard may seem a little out of the ordinary for an artist such as this, but she silences any potential naysayers with this emotional powerhouse that stretches her vocal abilities in deeply satisfying ways. The arrangement is especially powerful as well.
“Boulder to Birmingham” is another masterful cover. She draws from Emmylou Harris’ renowned discography for this track, a daunting challenge for even the best singers, and gives us a performance that the famed Harris would certainly be proud of. It captures all of the movement and emotion of the original without ever relying too much on Harris’ own interpretation. Share Your Secrets with Me is full of memorable moments such as this and strengthens Val Storey’s claim as one of the best country singers working today.
Garth Thomas