Easy
on the senses is how I would describe it. The second album
from Texas songbird Susie Warley is an easy toned album.
First: there are the vocals. There’s no microphone grabbing,
belt-em and leave-em vibrating pop crossover here. The voice
is stylish and charmed.
Warley plies her
trade with an album best described as varied. Across these
14-songs, the breathy but controlled vocals deliver on a
range covering the eclectic shades and elements of country
music. Produced by John Inmon, and supported by a polished
and primed band, Warley highlights her talent with 12
self-written tunes for the project.
For this mother of
two sons, who also holds the distinction of a Bachelors'
degree in English, her heart is clearly and keenly on
display. Naked Dreams is a revealing take on tugged
battles of love won and sometimes lost. When Warley sings,”
I bare my soul to you in a song; I got no secrets, no ghosts
taggin along,” it sets up a lyrical journey that’s
listenable, charmed and melodic.
The album does not
stray too far from that path. The overall sound is
consistent, with some stellar music moments: the guitar solo
in “Time to Fly” is note perfect, sharp and smooth, while
the Shake Russell co-write “Bird And Stone”, featuring his
harmony with its uncanny Cat Stevens similarity, is a
standout track.
Cuts like “Bed Of
Tears” a fiddle-etched heart-puller, the rockier “Can’t Find
My Way”, and the odyssey of the examined life in “Simple
Things” round out the overall appeal.
