ALBUM OF THE WEEK # 111 DREAMS SO REAL - ROUGH NIGHT IN JERICHO (1988)

Artist: Dreams So Real

Genre: Rock/Alternative Rock

Country Of Origin: USA

Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame Member: No

Album: Rough Night In Jericho

Released: 1988

Producer: Bill Drescher

Singles: Rough Night In Jericho/Bearing Witness

Song Of The Week: Rough Night In Jericho

Cover Me: N/A

RIAA Certification: Molybdenum

Album Cover: 7/10

So this week, and maybe next week too, I'm giving you a break from Tom Petty. I wanted to bring you something I'm pretty sure you've never heard before, therefore you get Dreams So Real this week. Their second album (their first as a signed band) comes from 1988. It's entitled Rough Night In Jericho. Dreams So Real was an Athens, Georgia trio along the lines of R.E.M., although nowhere near as popular. The album didn't sell, but they did manage to record and release a follow-up, but were soon dropped by their label. According to Wikipedia, at that point the band members just faded from the music business.

And that's really a shame, because although I don't expect any one of the 3 or so folks that listen to this to like it like I do, it was a huge part of my college soundtrack. Personally, I love the songs here. The vocalist, while maybe no Michael Stipe, is still quite good. And although you won't hear any shredding on this album, the guitarist still does a really good job. Even though this is alternative music, the guitar is still very important to the sound.

I put this band on my personal Top 5 Vastly Underrated Bands list, but they probably don't belong there. They just didn't produce enough music during their years together. And as a matter of fact, as much as I like this album, I'm not crazy about the follow-up. Anyway, take a listen and tell me what you think. You've got nothing to lose.

1. Rough Night In Jericho

2. Heart Of Stone

3. Bearing Witness

4. Victim

5. California

6. City Of Love

7. Open Your Eyes

8. Distance

9. Melanie

10. Love Fall Down