Venus
Artist: Joy Williams
Label: Columbia
Release Date: June 29, 2015
Release Date: June 29, 2015
Duration: 11 tracks, 39:46
Venus has an earthy, heart-felt quality throughout. In many
ways, this release represents the completed maturation of Joy Williams from
innocent CCM to the desperate relationship songs of The Civil Wars. At first
listen, this album is Civil Wars without the raw sound and male vocals of John
Paul White. Very well produced, engineered and mixed, Venus may be Williams’
fullest, most mature release to date.
Soft, personal songs (“Sweet Love of Mine”, “You Loved Me”)
are wrapped inside bigger works in Venus. The stage is set with “Before I Sleep”,
a big, sweeping, broader sound with deeper, mature vocals. Hot and heart
racing, “Woman (Oh Mama)” paints the picture of a woman’s world, the song has great
pace to meet message, powerful.
Beginning with a light, wandering sound, “Not Good Enough”
breaks into a strong musical message. “Until the Levee” gives a hard-hitting story
of love lost. Light strings and strong piano meld with understated vocals to
deepen the melodramatic feel of “The Dying Kind” being deep and sensual without
losing compassion, a perfect match of music and vocals. “Till Forever” drips
with sentiment and the finale, “Welcome Home” is a simple, sad and touching
ballad of love so appropriate for the ending of this offering.
Venus is a fuller, more mature sound and message than any
solo work Williams has produced to date. If you’re searching for the Williams
of the past you won’t find her here.
Scott S Mertens
3.5 tocks
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