Joy Williams – ‘Venus’ album review

Prepare to be wowed. Joy Williams’ new album, Venus, blazes a new trail for the now-solo artist after a surprising break with John Paul White and their GRAMMY-winning duo, The Civil Wars. Even more, her return to making music on her own doesn’t even resemble the pleasant pop structures of years gone by. Instead, Venus is a strong, confident statement of her own womanhood that stands among the year’s most diverse pop releases.

From the tribal rhythms of “Woman (Oh Mama)” to the stadium-level energy of “Until The Levee Breaks,” Venus is a powerful presentation of a very vulnerable journey inward to rediscover her artistry. She’ll abandon all for this mission, including any hint of the acoustic accouterments from her recent success. It won’t please all fans, but Williams seems content setting her own course.