Denise Kovalevich from dmk Publicity was kind enough to give me an advance preview of this upcoming album (on Bell Buckle Records) and I owe her many thanks as this release is quite the unique experience.  Prior to getting her email I had not heard of Valerie Smith which apparently has been a blind spot in my Americana / bluegrass experience.  A little poking around on the Interwebs revealed a long discography which I will be attempting to catch up on in the future.  

As for this album…it was crafted over 12 years by Smith after the journal of her great-grandmother was discovered in an attic.   As described in the press release:

“A true labor of love, Maggie’s Journal seamlessly blends bluegrass, Americana, and roots traditions into a vivid sonic tapestry. Original songs intertwine with spoken-word excerpts taken directly from Maggie’s handwritten journal—discovered decades after her death by Smith’s cousins, Kathy Eaton and Fonda Wells, tucked away inside a “Car Load Tablet” buried in an attic trunk.”

Now for a history and music buff like me, that description is like solid gold especially as Maggie was living in the post Civil War times which are a particular interest of mine.   Add in the bluegrass component and we are officially on a good path.  

So it was with some real anticipation that I hit play and was met with “Introduction – The Dream Story” which is a reflection by Smith on a vision she had after reading her great-grandmother’s words.    It gives background on the inspiration for the album and is followed by the first journal excerpt (there are 15 of these out of the 30 total tracks on the album).  Through those selections you really get to know Maggie’s story and her rather hard path through life.  These readings are set against subtle musical backgrounds that seem to be crafted to fit the mood of each part of the story.  

The 14 original musical tracks on the album are all strong and well composed.  Lyrically they are stark and poignant, telling simple stories while providing many little details that really allow these songs to live in your mind.  A few standouts for me were:

“That Was A Long Time Ago” – the slow pace of this song leaves a lot of room for some great instrumentation that features a nice mix of stringed instruments that play masterfully off of each other.   There is also a strong bass line that is like a heartbeat of the remembered life told by the lyrics.  

“Misery of Green” – the violin on this track weaves in and out of prominent place at just the right moments, sitting behind for atmosphere in some places and then soaring up to bring the tender, sorrowful mood needed by the story.  There are also some great mandolin sounds here. 

“When You Aint Got Nothin’” – I love to listen to a composition where great musicians can bring a clear, specific vibe with their vocals and instruments and this one is a perfect example.  It has attitude and feistiness throughout with energetic vocals, a sassy violin, punchy guitar and a subtle but true boot-stompimg rhythm.   For a cool side mission, strap on those good headphones and pick out the banjo on this one as there is much awesomeness going on there. 

A technical note also that this album is exceptionally well done by Tim Carter & Scott Vestal (engineering), Donna Ulisse (producer) and Chris Latham (mixing, mastering).  You can tell the care that went into every step of the process when you hear the results, especially when you take some extra time to really listen carefully.  There are some truly exquisite moments in these songs that take a very dedicated and skilled team to achieve. 

Musicians on this, in addition to Smith are: Cody Kilby (acoustic guitar, mandolin), Stephen Burwell (violin), Evan Winsor (upright bass), Scott Vestal (banjo) and backing vocals by Donna Ulisse, Josie Smith, Mike Rogers, Rosa Vestal and Aaron Vestal.

This album is one of those unique experiences that are hard to come by and one that I was fortunate enough to be able to preview.  I would recommend this one to you and it will be out for purchase on January 1, 2026 via Smith’s website  https://thevaleriesmith.com

Let me know you think! 

And as always – appreciate the great community you have surrounding you 🙂