Cheryl Deserée took home the 2017 Academy Of Western Artists
award for Western Swing Female Vocalist Of The Year and it’s easy to hear why after a
listen to her brand new release, Dreamy! Cheryl blends her traditional country,
western swing and jazz influences in a unique style that is all her own. I was reminded of this wonderful project
titled Great Hawaiian Hits by The
Mills Brothers as I was listening to Cheryl’s album. They were one of my dad’s favorites and a
group I didn’t fully appreciate until after his passing. Hearing Cheryl’s new project certainly
brought a smile as a few of the tracks brought back the memory of this album
and happy to hear new generations with a beautiful blending of styles. Deserée delivers standout sultry and smoky
vocals throughout this project that is so aptly titled. Dreamy feels like the perfect record to put
on to really get lost in each performance.
Asleep At The Wheel’s Ray Benson joins in on the Louis
Prima & Keely Smith cover “Oooh-dah-dilly-dah”
and the result is pure fun! There’s no
way to not smile hearing this one. “Home To Stay” is another real treat
with guests Riders In The Sky providing the perfect backdrop to Cheryl’s
impeccable delivery. As with so many
songs on this release, you are transformed to an earlier decade where music was
performed with real talent. Dale Watson
lends his lead guitar to “Another Empty
Bottle” which is a wonderful classic country track with smoky vocals full
of attitude: “I won’t apologize for this ugly truth I tell/ everything I’m good
at is going to land me in jail or hell!”
How many releases these days so effortlessly take you
back? Not many but this is one you will
keep coming back to. It’s not background
music. You will be actively involved
even if it’s just daydreaming…which judging from the title is the goal and in
particular the tracks “Dreamy, Too”
and “Dreamy…After Hours”, which sort
of set the pace of the album. Another
song to highlight is “Tele I’a O Le Sami”
(Let Me Hear You Whisper) which is a beautiful Samoan love song. You may have heard this from other artists
before, but this one is likely to be your favorite as it is mine! Of note to mention is that Cheryl wrote or
co-wrote 11 of the 13 tracks as well which shows her talent with a pen as well
as a microphone! Put Dreamy on, close
your eyes and be thankful such great music like this is being created!
1. Sitting Duck
2. Another Empty Bottle
3. Starstruck
4. Rumor Mill
5. Dreamy, Too
6. Half White Trash, Half Black Sheep
7. Tele I’a O Le Sami
8. Home To Stay
9. Oooh-dah-dilly-dah
10. Dreamy...After Hours
11. Snake Oil And Stiff Drinks
12. Neglected Waltz
Bonus: Too Long Daddy
Cheryl Deserée-Dreamy
Stepford Bunny Records
Release Date: September 7, 2018
