Throughout Matt “MV” Valentine’s musical career, he has dabbled in just about everything: from psych-folk to blues. The only thing missing from his catalog, and maybe for good reason, is a straight laced disco album. Releasing material with Tower Recordings, the Werefrogs, as MV & EE, solo efforts and countless other projects, Valentine manages to keep his sound fresh and his latest is no exception. Reminiscent of his work with long time collaborator, Erika Elder (the EE of MV & EE), What I Became layers acoustic and electric throughout that gives a warmth and a calming persistency to Valentine’s solo music.
That this release is out on Woodsist is no real surprise, What I Became is easily one of Valentine's folksier sounding efforts. An album that longtime fans will surely appreciate and no doubt sounds comfortable amongst Woodsist company. His ability to pluck strings as heard on "Continuing the Good Life," is superb and should be highlighted any chance he gets. Valentine shakes it up on “Hit The Trails” with a steady amount of electric and acoustic noise; Valentine sings :“Hit the trails/get off of the road” repeatedly over distorted chords. “PK Dick” spotlights Valentine’s guitar skills as they push his vocals to a barely audible point, an unhurried jam that’s almost haunting.
