REVIEW: Dan Ashley — Out There (SINGLE)
Dan Ashley keeps spirits high with his new album Out There. Simmering with nostalgia and passion Out There provides listeners with a feel-good album for the entire year. Out There feels as familiar as Bruce Springsteen and as catchy as “American Pie”. Ashley’s album stands on its own by incorporating topical themes and lyrics. Out There effortlessly balances gentle social criticism with the best of Americana. This creates a balanced, easy listening classic rock album.
WEBSITE: http://danashleymusic.com/
Ashley’s voice is worn in like a pair of blue jeans, instantly adding new dimensions to every track. When Ashley emphasizes or pushes his voice forward, you really feel it. Opening track “River City” highlights Ashley’s vocal abilities. Each song fits Ashley’s voice like a glove, adding to the rawness of his performance. There’s an earnestness that Ashley’s performance brings to Out There, instantly imbuing it with an undeniable passion. This passion and joy can be heard and felt on the entire album. I commend Dan Ashley for bringing so much heart and soul to Out There, it takes this album to new heights. It asks listeners to dare to chase joy in an uncertain world that’s more than likely going to try and tear you apart. Ashley see’s this and still asks us to hope.
Title track “Out There” is the most unique song on the album. “Out There” explores the sentiment of looking out at the world and wondering if it’s worth venturing into. Common ground is scarce these days, Ashley comments on that reality with the lyrics, “We’re tearing each other down/like this theater in the round”. Songs like “River City” and “What Really Matters” focus on bringing people together as much as possible. Exploring the power that community and love has on the world. “Out There” smartly addresses the obstacles everyone faces when they look to build community and find their place in the world. Ashley gets cheeky with cosmic lyrics that wonder how other planets (and subsequent lifeforms) handle similar issues.
The production of “Out There” is different than its accompanying ten tracks. It shares prominent drums and syncopated guitar riffs with the rest of the album. Where it diverts is during the second verse where they start to use reverb on Ashley’s voice. It is still clearly a classic rock song but with hints of sci-fi. Ashley uses a theremin in the closing chorus tying the melody into the galactic references in the lyrics. It’s these little details that make “Out There” the most interesting and exciting track on the album.
SONGWHIP: https://songwhip.com/dan-ashley/out-there
Dan Ashley’s new album Out There is a celebration of people uniting. It’s a warm hearted album from start to finish. Ashley offers an unapologetic and unafraid approach to exploring tricky subject matters with Out There. He tackles subjects like immigration and COVID-19 in a concise manner and always with artistry. Out There explores the ups and downs of the human condition and the realities of living in America right now. Dan Ashley does so with grace and a deep love for music that makes Out There a joyous artistic experience.
Colin Jordan
