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Are You a Dreamer
Denison Witmer
Reviewed by: Paul Isinger [Sun, August 14, 2005 @ 7:00:10 PM]
Denison Witmer is the first to admit that his music will “resonate” with a limited number of people. I think it’s definitely clear that once an artist stops writing to please and just lets whatever’s inside out, regardless of things such as critical acclaim or material success, they will often achieve something special. “Are You a Dreamer” is one of these albums. Free to be itself and nothing more, the disc is filled with 10 honest, refreshing songs (folkish for the genre bent) that avoid catering to a target audience or fitting a specific formula.
Musically, “Are You a Dreamer” is comprised of subtle, beautiful music that is never simple enough to be plain but never complex enough to be bloated. The soothing songs are often based around soft, finger picked guitar and subsequently filled out with the many guest musicians (such as Sufjan Stevens) that the disc features. For what the songs may lack in instant sugary appeal they more than make up for in both quality and substance.
Denison’s lyrics mesh perfectly with his music and help complete the personal feeling the album possesses. I mentioned that the album was free to be itself, but really I meant himself. The lyrics tell stories, ask questions, relate aspirations, and some other intangibles of life. They are intelligent and metaphorical but never overbearing or flashy, and their subject matter keeps them from getting stale.
Admittedly, Denison’s songs lack the flash, theatrics, pop hooks, or other flavor of the week characteristics of your typical, very marketable, TRL band and will likely leave most listeners searching for such trends unfulfilled. However, because of this, the album is somewhat timeless. There’s nothing to tie it down, or point it towards a certain scene at a certain time. The disc has to potential to be on of those albums that gets better with age and hopefully people give the album and Denison Witmer the chance they definitely deserve.
Rating: 8 out of 10
www.denisonwitmer.com
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