Wesley Dean – Music From Crazy Hearts
Shuffling through this week’s new music, there was just something about this one, Music From Crazy Hearts, by Wesley Dean. There’s something soulful and there’s a gospel chorus energy but it’s mixed in with This album was recorded at Studio A in Nashville.
“Southern Man” starts out shrouded in a bit of mystery and suspense with Western sounds beckoning you into the tale that’s approaching, including lonesome harmonica. Buildup to Wesley’s growly power vocals, “I’m a Southern man, I do the best that I can but I can’t make sense of what I don’t understand,” and then a madman cackle. “Crucifix burning bright…” This song turns into a powerhouse roots rock piece.
Big choruses come on with lots of voices after a loping introduction and gritty vocals by Wesley – you are in church with a choir with “Mercy.” “Lord have mercy when I’m dead … I know you’re there why ain’t you answering me?” The choir is the McCrary Sisters. The feel is chilling and expansive at once.
“Crazy Hearts” features Sarah Buxton on vocals and a more subdued. “Do you remember the time in a park slide we were carefree creatures of the night?… we’d talk all night….” Nostalgic and clear, even when the plans blow up in smoke “sometimes I think my souls was too damn heavy for you.”
“Tennessee Road” starts with a fantastic glorious choir intro, beautiful with the sound of human voices that continues down the road.
“Blood Brothers,” an early release, is about kids growing up in a small town, running through the wheat farm, “still young and naive to believe anything they told each other.” Easy acoustic guitar and tinges of sadness mark this one’s mood.
This album is the rock solid result of hard work and touring across America for this native Australian, building a fan base town by town, with songs coming to him from his muse all along the way. Find more details and information on his website here: https://wesleydean.komi.io/
Musicians on the album are Wesley Dean on vocals, harmonica, electric and acoustic guitar, Brian Killian on drums and percussion; Adam Beard on bass; Chris Harrah on electric guitar; Charlie Lowell on keyboards; Billy Contreras on fiddle and strings; and Sam Melrod on percussion. On backing vocals are the following: The McCrary Sisters (Ann McCrary, Regina McCrary, and Alfreda McCrary), Shannon Sanders, Anthony Kennedy, Traneshia Chiles, Angela McCrary, Kim Fleming, and Chelseai Cunningham.
The album was produced, engineered, and mixed by Justin Cortelyou with engineering by Phillip Smith and Sam Melrod; and mastered by Pete Lyman at Infrasonic Mastering assisted by Daniel Bacigalupi.