Jeff Buckley if he'd been a little happier?
David Gray if he actually wanted to rock a little?
This is a tough one. I'm having a hard time pinning down who exactly Dan Dyer reminds me of. Not the music (I'll get to that later), but the voice. It's a high, reedy instrument that tends to slip into a mild vibrato only at the tail end of phrases. Better still, Dyer appears to know what to do with it. He's able to communicate sadness, love and hopefulness with soul and energy. Maybe it's because the music doesn't get in his way...
OK, here's the whole story. Dyer, a mostly unknown Austin-based singer/songwriter, is discovered by Lenny Kravitz. Kravitz signs him to his new label, "Roxie" (named for his late mom, the TV actress Roxie Roker.) On Of What Lies Beneath Kravitz plays the role of producer and band, playing most of the instruments (with Dyer and Craig Ross occasionally adding guitars.) Now, I'm a pretty big fan of Kravitz when he leans toward the pop side of things. "Let Love Rule" was a great song. Man, I just loved that descending vocal on the chorus. On this record, Lenny's pop side is on display. Check out the rubbery bassline that drives the verses of "Great Ocean".
Still, it's Dan Dyer's songwriting and vocals that are center stage here. There are fine pop/rock tunes (the opener "Red Alert" and "She Makes Me Believe") as well as songs that are out of the singer/songwriter thing ("Not Of This World" and "Space Alien"...well, until it boils over anyway.)
If this is the kind of artist Kravitz intends to bring to his label, I'd say Roxie has a bright future. Dan Dyer may be one of the most promising musicians I've seen coming from anywhere near a major label in quite some time.
(First posted on Mark Is Cranky)
Article comments
1 - crosby
Can ANYONE tell me what band dyer was in while in Austin?
2 - Mark Saleski
Breedlove?
3 - c
yes dyer is amazing. just saw him here in austin, at waterloo records. his record is awesome, and yes he used to be in Breedlove here in austin. Not as good as his solo stuff though if you ask me. i am happy he's made it. the guy's got an amazing powerful voice, and is a great songwriter.
4 - ll
I agree - I was a big fan of Breedlove, but his solo material is beyond comparison. Just saw Dan last night here in Austin, TX. The show was great - recordings just can't capture his amazing voice. I would recommend checking his website for tour dates in your area.
5 - coolhand
Dan Dyer's music can give you a glimpse of true emotion. It is more than just "music". It truly is art, to the highest degree. The amazing thing about Dan is that he doesn't even need to sing. His music is THAT good.
When he does sing you find out his voice is beyond comparison. Dan Dyer is the real deal. Hallelujah, Jeff Buckley, Hallelujah. You won't find it anywhere else. He is without a match. He has no boundaries. His songs will give you a glimpse into the emotion, into the math, and into the rhythm of art at its finest.
-coolhand
6 - Vikki D
I found Dan Dyer music by accident. He played tonight at a local club here in Wichita Falls, Tx. While checking that clubs' calendar to see who was playing, I came across his name and checked out his website. I immediately fell in love with the music and went to the show even forcing my husband and both my kids to go as well. I can only say that the recording just does not do his voice justice and the family was thanking "ole Mom" for making them go after the first song. I met him after and he was gracious and genuine. You can bet I bought the cd and had it playing in the car on the way home. But... see him perform Live if you really want a experience that voice to the fullest. I'm hooked and can't wait to hear more. Thanks to Lenny Kravitz!!
7 - joe garcia
I think that the move to his solo career was inevitable, but Breedlove is still alive through Tyrone V. Fullerton ( old guitarist and cousin of Dan)who has been on the move, and whose songs like "feelin fine" and "i wanna go home" are strong songwriting achievements and will be played live in Austin soon. Dan is also the spirit of Breedlove aswell and maybe the two will hook up again someday.
8 - val
He sounds exactly like Ryan Adams
9 - Rick B.
Love the voice, love the a lot about the single...except they ruined Great Ocean for me with the convoluted phrasing, "You make me doubt, continually, myself"...This is amateur lyric writing at its most upsetting and really ruins the song for me. With his voice he could easily have sung, "You make me (pause) continually doubt myself..." and made it work, or else changed it to something more appropriate. Everytime I hear that line I want to scream as much as I did when Vanessa Williams sang "Sometimes the sun goes round the moon" (Uh...no it doesn't! Not ever.). They screwed up a very likeable song. Doesn't anyone proof lyrics before the release an album to the world. Ugh!
10 - ian mulka
i love dan dyers music
11 - AMY TRAMMELL
Before breedlove, Dan Dyer and Tyrone Vaughn were in a band called Rainshine...and they were awesome...the enire band was awesome. We would go to shows and we would be the only one's dancing because no one knew them...until about the second song...and then everyone was shoulder to shoulder in a little bitty club dancing their asses off in a restaurant/bar called Cafe on the Square in San Marcos, Texas. People loved their music from the start.I also worked at a club in Austin when the band was called breedlove, and they packed the place with like 900 people a night....and something weird or I guess great about their shows was that everyone in the crowd...everyone... seemed to be very beautiful people. This guy seems to attract beautiful people. But he's kind of a beautiful guy.
I loved it when they formed "breedlove" I thought the name had symbolism. I'm certain that this guy will go far.... I've known it since I saw him for the first time....almost ten years ago. I wish he was back in Austin :)
Amy
12 - DisRespecca
Ah, the old Breedlove days. Anyone know how to reach Tucker? I think I owe him a grilled cheese.
13 - carol
Breedlove actually got back together for 2 shows at Momo's in Austin last month! I got to go to one and it was like they never stopped playing together! Found this site www.breedlove-music.com. Not much info, but some!
14 - Diana
If your going to be in Austin in December, Breedlove should be playing! I'm going!
15 - Lance E. Red Elk
Wondering what's up with Dan these days, the last time I saw da boy he and Jason were on stage at the Gypsy Tea Room in Big D. I have been an aquaintance of Dan and Jason since my days in "bigloo" and I was wanting to know how the new writing was coming along and when there will be a new record. I am sick that I knew nothing about the Breedlove reunion. My band had the privelage of opening for Breedlove at Antone's in Feb. '98 and it was one of the best shows I have ever been a part of.
16 - dokken be-otch ceg
2 Lance HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!! (damn your old)
A few days early, but wishing you a great day.
Hey, I love the new Stone Sour cd.
17 - Lance E. Red Elk
2 dokken beotch ceg
Thanks for the happy B-day message, it was a great day. I have a question though, who the hell is this.
18 - dokken beotch ceg
butt! carmen elaine
19 - Lance E. Red Elk
Carmen
Wow, I can't believe you were checking out this web site, I wouldn't have thought that you knew who Dan Dyer is. [Personal contact info deleted] See you later gator.
NDN
20 - dokken beotch ceg
Hey, if u want 2 find me go to...
myspace.com , under myspace heading click search, scroll down 2 find a friend, type my first & last name (maiden), It should pop-up 3 of us, I'm the 1 who is 36 (smile).
So, u played baseball, BATTER UP!?!
Yes, Dan is a great talent.
21 - puttram
Just loaded some Dan Dyer and Breedlove stuff on youtube, more to follow if the feedback is positive:
In Between
Reach Out
National Anthem - really worth watching!