For
many music wannabes success only happens in dreams. That place
where the impossible melts into craved and needed
possibilities. Others are more practical. For singer and
songwriter, Zachary Hunter, his realization of success has
come from effort, perseverance and plain hard work.
He's been too busy to doze. His latest project, In
Your Dreams, has demanded many waking hours since its
planning in 2004. The pleasing news is it's been worth the
effort.
For the Virginia-born performer it's been a
hard slog to this album. Hunter didn't dream of the quick fix;
he knew it would take time to earn and learn, and that's what
he's been doing over the last ten-or-so years. He's dragged
his guitar case through the refining apprenticeship of coffee
shops and low tip clubs, all the while honing his craft
and shaping his ambition. Along the way he's stopped and
delivered two albums.
Now with latest release, Hunter is further
refining his talent. It’s proven with the adage suggesting
that if you’re going to make good music, bring great
musicians. And there’s no shortage here. Kenny Aronoff (John
Fogerty, John Mellencamp), Pete Anderson (Dwight Yoakam, Moot
Davis), Paul Franklin (multiple CMA Musician of the Year Award
winner) and all-star sidekick Brent Mason, among others,
join and deliver keen, bankable sounds across Hunter's 13
self-written tracks. Add to the musical mix well-known
co-producer, Ed Stasium (he's twiddled knobs for The Ramones,
Joan Jett and others), and you have an album that
satisfies on many levels.
As a songwriter Hunter is observant and
worldly, all with a life focus. He taps into the many
facets of the examined life. The title cut, in
particular, proves hard-held dreams do come true. The tune
follows a cowpoke who's, what else, in love. The woman
enjoying the affection and flattery has other plans;" In
Your Dreams" is a song with a chorus response and
relevance known to many a male. The good news here is that
rather than flung, our love starved cowboy follows the way all
heart tug tunes should go. Persistence pays: he wins the woman
and reaffirms to the rest of us sideliners that a feint heart
never won a fair hand.
With a biography ambition of wanting to
"move" people with his music, Hunter tells he feels
he’s achieved his aim with this CD.
I'm very proud of this recording," say
the troubadour who cites Vince Gill, Clint Black and Steve
Wariner as defining influences.
And listening to several of the tracks,
cuts like "A Place In The Heart" (a cheating and
losing at love saga), the indecision of needed choices played
out on the rock-tinged "Two Lonesome Hearts", and
the realized ache of lost love on "Those Ain’t Tears
(In My Eyes) Hunter has reason for his pride.
If you like your country modern, but soaked
in a traditional feel, all from a guy who’s wide awake to
the possibilities, then listen out for Zachary Hunter.
In Your Dreams is out now on Aspirion.
