Dear Reader Album Review
Dear Reader – Idealistic Animals – City Slang Records
Word by Jamie Reynolds
The Fox sombrely oozes out of my speakers as I start my journey through Dear Reader second album. Slowly each subtle tone filters and resonates all it’s beauty and penetrates me on a different cosmic level than I have experienced in a while. Dear Reader have an uncanny gift to sound ‘pop’ if I must stain them with that dirty word, however they do it with a certain style and class like no other current sensation loitering on our radio playlists at the moment. It’s the perfect intro for Idealistic Animals. Cheri holds back a touch on the opener and it’s this that really attracts me. It adds an extra bit of curiosity as to what this album is about to unfurl.
Monkey follows suit and stands out early on as a single that should be running constantly on airwaves around the world. I am not a fan of humming at the best of times but it works so well on this track. Add violins, piano and an intriguing guitar riff here and there and you have the perfect recipe for pure bliss.
I was a little apprehensive when first hearing that founding member Darryl Torr would be missing in the Dear Reader line up. However sad it is for members to come and go the band have still managed to hold on to everything I loved from “Replace Why With Funny” and have pushed their sound in so many new and exciting alleys. Quaint classic tones and melodies thrive on MacNeil’s vocals. She is the heart and soul of Dear Reader and with Idealistic Annimals she hits every note perfectly and effortlessly. Her vocal beauty is further enhanced with her flair for doing more than just writing thoughts to paper. Her lyrics are phenomenally enchanting and honesty sweep me off my feet. The words come right out of the music and tug at every heartstring possible. If there was honestly an artist I could fall in love with at first sound it would be Dear Reader and Idealistic Animals is just the right record to come into my life right now.
9.5/10
