Nashville, Tennessee – August 31, 2017 Naphtali Jimi – Freelance Writer
Ok, gang…“let’s listen!…”
This twenty-seventeen summer was not a bummer because Janey “Blues” Street dropped some coolness from within, on an album entitled, “In My Own Skin”. Fresh off her award-winning tour and being voted LA Music Critic’s award “Best Rock, Best CD and an Icon Award in Hollywood, Smooth and easy Janey unabashedly continues to croon and apply a tender touch to her guitar, like she always does, with this fresh set about life, love, sex and music. I have listened to this CD often during my car travels this summer and apologize for the late write-up, which, however, is just in time for some introspective, romantic, Autumn leaves listening. Its never too late for nice music.
Janey Street’s latest album is like when you visit a friend’ house to grill and chill many a tasty feast, from seafood to tasty meats. With just the right spice, a beverage and deep flavors, you will know that Ms. Street can be depended upon to deliver musically. Upon initial listen, frankly I was underwhelmed until I heard cut number eleven, “Dignity”, with its hip-hop bridge, “Tryin’ to work a 9 to 5 to make a livin’/bills just keep on coming, they keep takin’ with no givin’…” then and there I put the brakes on, as the hairs on my own epidermis stood up. I had to revisit the album, to hear what I had previously missed.
My ears found that, track two, “When You Are Loved” is the most appealing and heartfelt song on this album. It brought tears to my lonely eyes several times because of its relatability. Many hurting humans can relate to it and it would even garner today’s radio program directors’ airplay as the first single, IMO.
The whining, “woooo”, bluesy organ on “Guilty Pleasures” and her Marvin Gaye-ish over-dubbing vamp-to-cold ending vocals make this tune my second favorite one. “Undone” is UNder the radar, not a cover of The Guess Who, (although I wish it were) and the most blusey-County music-leaning tune on the album. 
No track is like another one on this, her sophomore album with Blue Elan, which includes this neat song lyric insert to the right! There is something for almost everyone. The most fun tune is one from her distant past, Queens, New York City roots entitled, “Under the Clock”. Compare the first and recent videos about it.
Even more entertaining to my double entendre` radio DJ mind from the pre-corporate radio daze, are a few songs like “Sex Is Easy, But Love Is Hard”, “Wrap My Mind Around You” (really?) and “I Wanna Love You Deep”, all of which are getting my brains hard. I can rework all of those lyrics amusingly, in a sexual healing heartbeat! (towel needed) Get some, Janey!
Bottom Line: Ms. Janey Street can leave a musical legacy like Janis Joplin, given proper promotion and support by great, pro-active public relations, an out-of-the-box thinking label, consistent touring and supportive mass media. Otherwise, her efforts may go down like track nine, “Wreckage”, which is not what I want to see. Therefore, I bestow three-and-a-half out of five, skinny stars for this album. 
We would have liked to have seen her also on this 2017 version for a grownup comparison! Alas…
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