An EP release from Reagan Browne has a unique way of delivering a brilliant combination of genres that range from classic country and Americana to classic rock as well, and all of these come into play strewn about throughout the records unfolding along with an amazing sort of Personality that you get attached to as well.
This Heart's for Dreamer's is an EP that showcases Reagan's ability to speak his mind and perform with classic country heart and soul but also to coat things with little elements of pop so that you have guitar hooks to go along with strong choruses.
This, I've missed in music for quite some time. A strong chorus is always a key factor in a great song, of course, but having some guitar hooks used to be an imperative element in songwriting, especially in rock music since the '50s.
This record is full of those hooks along with that heart and personality I mentioned earlier, and as the record plays through, you get a grasp on where he's coming from.
The record opens with a track called "Little Town America", a song that fuels that country drive. You can hear a lot of that southern kissed tonality throughout this track, which is brilliant because it introduces you to that aspect of the record right from the get-go.
Again, this is heavily influenced by country in Americana, and most would call it a country record, but there are loads of elements of classic rock in here, and you can hear those influences shining through plenty.
Tracks like "Get Back Sadie" for example, showcase some of that classic, almost Beatles-influenced rock elements with keys and guitar work that reach into 60s rock but still bear that southern tonality in its underbelly.
Then you have songs like "I'm Gonna Be here for A While" which is a song that comes through as a power ballad and the chorus of this one is so anthemic and Powerful that you get sucked right into it.
This song, in particular, also showcases how intense he can be vocally when he wants to.
I love hearing a record that's got this much vivacious sort of energy, but how he reels it in and saves it for those intense parts of the songs. Usually, the choruses are the parts that boast those intense sections, but there are other parts throughout the songs that also hit hard.
It feels like a lot of this record is incredibly personal, and some have more emotionally driven backbones than others but it's all genuine.
You can tell this whole thing came from someplace authentic, and that's part of why you get attached to it.
He reaches into his youth, influences, and life, and these songs almost feel like chapters for him.
It's almost like you're reading a short book, and each song serves as a chapter in Reagan's life.
At times, lyrics can get very descriptive, so you can paint pictures in your head as the songs unfold.
I got pulled into this record, and it's one of those releases that I suggest you listen to from beginning to end because there's a lot to offer.
There are points of views, situations, and stories to tell here and it's done with layers of emotion and heart so listening to one or two songs may give you a little bit of an idea as to what you might expect but, listening to the whole EP lets you take it in the way it was meant to be.
Upon checking this record out, I took a little bit of a deep dive into his back catalog, and there is a ton to soak in there, as Regan has been releasing music since 2007 on Spotify, at least.
A lot of these releases showcase that southern tone but also show his other influences along with how he constructs songs and utilizes his songwriting to express certain parts of his life that he wants to.
If you like this release, then there is a slew of other releases you will dig, including a self-titled EP from 2013 that's just amazing.
There are a lot of surprises around the corners, but it's well worth going through this catalog.
At any rate, start with this EP and work your way back. I'm sure you won't be disappointed, especially if you love country and classic rock music because he blends those seamlessly, as I said before.
Check this out right now and see what it does for you.