Whew. Finally a CD that can get some decent air time in my car.
Dan Dyer's, "...of what lies beneath," is officially my new jam. His CD may replace Brandy's "Afrodisiac" as soon as I put the pedal to the metal.
While the CD consists of rock music and would usually be undeserving of hip-hop jargon, the line between musical genres on this album is a bit crooked, so exceptions can be made - this time.
Although many of the songs on Dyer's album have a rock feel, you can still hear pop and R&B elements. Perhaps this is because the album's producer usually uses a mixture of these things in his music as well.
The album, produced by Lenny Kravitz, has his style written all over it. In fact, one could say that Dyer can be replaced with Kravitz. If you strain your ears slightly, especially when listening to Dyer's song "Of What Lies Beneath," it would sound like Kravitz's "Baptism" CD.
"Why are we/ So afraid (so afraid)/ To go lay down in the river/ Wash away everything so we can be delivered?"
Could everyone who sees the connection please raise their hands?
Despite the parallel universe Kravitz and Dyer create music in, the album is still worth listening to.
It reminds you of a Mandy Moore movie. When it's all over, all you want to have done is overcome a few obstacles, including a little heartache, and end up in love.
"Red Alert" is the perfect song to play during the closing credits of a love story. The lyrics have just the right amount of substance and shallowness to them. They make you want to know what happened to the movie characters' relationship while putting you in a good enough mood to forget about what you were thinking and hold your significant other's hand a wee bit tighter.
The R&B elements are heard in Dyer's vocals and the background in "You."
If there were ever a baby-making song to be had on a rock CD, this is it. It has just the right mix of guitar breaks, studio enhancement, rim shot, tempo and catchy melody.
Too bad you have to completely ignore the fact that the song is actually about his love falling in love with someone else and leaving him completely smitten.
"You/ See another in your eyes/ You/ Left me paralyzed/ You/ Showed me what I couldn't see/ You/ No longer belong to me/ You/ Felt another in your hands/ You gave yourself to another man/ You/ Pretend there's nothing wrong/ You/ Want me to play along."
At least, that's what it sounded like. One can never be sure when they're busy envisioning all of the possibilities the enticing man on the album cover presents.
If you liked this, you might also like: Lenny Kravitz, Baptism
Suggested Listening: Walking through crunchy leaves on a sunny autumn day.
