How an obscure country singer/songwriter from the picturesque but rather middle of nowhere town of Durango, CO, recording for a smallish indie country label, landed an industry heavyweight like
Ed Stasium to produce his second album is a bit mystifying on its face. Things become clearer upon listening to
In Your Dreams, however: it turns out that
Zachary Hunter is the real deal, a solid country-rock singer/songwriter whose music stands up favorably to that of any of the current male stars of Nashville-centric country radio. Very much in the new traditionalist mold -- so much so that one of the album's highlights is called "Something Big (The George Strait Song)," a charming and catchy tune extolling the virtues of
Strait's music as a romantic lure --
Hunter has a natural, unaffected vocal style and a knack for novelistic lyrical detail.
Stasium's production gives the songs just enough of a rock and roll kick to make them exciting without tipping over into
Toby Keith-style bombast. Straight-ahead, unpretentious country with some enticing pop hooks,
In Your Dreams is an entirely enjoyable release. ~ Stewart Mason