"Struggle, Strength, Reclamation" was Irene & Reed's second full-length album, which was recorded at Sony Tree Studios in Nashville, TN, in 2013 but then unexpectedly shelved before it could be released due to the floods and various technical issues.

 

Performing on the album were Leslie Irene Benson (vocals), Jason Reed Milner (piano, organ), Eddie Venable (drums) and Eric Latham (bass guitar). The music was produced by Brad Milner of LEF TON Studios in Indianapolis, IN.

 

The sophomore album is a bittersweet reclamation of Benson's self-identity after surviving years of domestic violence. The album can be summed up in its lyrics. 

 

“I am filled with love stories and inconsistence. I am a free spirit tied to indecision. I don’t come with instructions. I move in all directions. I may make bad decisions, but I’m on a mission.” 

 

"You can't break me."