Search - Denison Witmer :: Are You a Dreamer

Solid Release...

David Banyan | Canton, OH | 10/12/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"As another reviewer said, "Music is such a subjective transient experience!" Truer words have never been written! My experience with Are You A Dreamer? has been the polar opposite of their 2 star review. Are You A Dreamer, Denison's tenth album, has not left my stereo since I purchased it a month ago. I become more attached to it with every listen and it has become a well-loved, if not revered, record in my circle of friends.

Dreamer is a very underestimated album. Although it takes some a few listens to fully enjoy, even the less catchy tunes eventually sink their teeth in and don't let go. Don Peris's (of The Innocence Mission and Denison's debut Safe Away) production is very shimmery and clean. The songs while very basic in structure, are layered with arrangements which bring out the best of each song without getting in the way of Denison's folksy songwriting. The arrangements mostly consist of finger style acoustic guitar, dreamy (almost jazzy) electric guitar, female harmony vocals (Karen Peris of "The Innocence Mission" on a few songs), organ, piano, and even light drums on a few tracks. Denison's vocals are up front and his voice evokes emotion like few other records of the past several years. His vocals seem to be getting better and more mature with each record he releases. Lyrically Denison has improved as well. He seems a bit less caught up in himself and able to write from a larger, perhaps older, worldview. Songs like Little Flowers, California Brown and Blue, and Grandma Mary are my favorites. I was especially excited to see Sufjan Stevens (Sufjan's reaching HUGE popularity with his own record Illinois right now) as a guest musician. He plays banjo and sings on a few of the songs.

Most of my favorite records are one's with moments that didn't necessarily strike me the first time through, yet had an element that kept me coming back until I became completely hooked on them. "Are You A Dreamer" is no exception to this rule.

If you like Paul Simon, Iron and Wine, Sufjan Stevens, Gillian Welch or even Ryan Adams, I highly recommend this record.

Denison is constantly on tour and with his warm and gracious stage presence he keeps people coming back and buying albums (very few artists are as prolific). My friends and I maintain that he translates best live, but this record has really captured the warmth in what he does best - sharing his honest, heartfelt songs about every day life. If after reading this review you are still on the fence about it check out his myspace site @ www. myspace.com/denisonwitmer to hear a couple of tracks."

Singer-songwriter makes music of empathy, compassion, and sp

N. Kokoshis | Madison, WI USA | 01/14/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is music to rest your spirit in, pure and simple. For me this album is like a meditation-- I feel rested and rejuvenated every time I play it. In today's slamming beat-driven music market (which has produced some wonderfully wild arrangements), that makes it the ultimate outsider album. Yet I have a feeling that with the added push of record label Militia Music, Witmer could certainly claim the cult audience he deserves. I'm a child of the 1970s, so my tendency is to compare the songs on ARE YOU A DREAMER? to the gentlest efforts by Cat Stevens (think "The Wind"), Donovan (ie "Catch the Wind" or his work on the film Brother Sun Sister Moon), James Taylor at his sweet baby jamesiest, and even Jackson Browne ("Our Lady of the Well"). Witmer's voice is serenity and sensitivity personified, while his lyrics embrace and intertwine both secular and spiritual themes so that you hardly notice or care where one ends and the other begins (dare I say it, like a dream)-- he infuses all topics he tackles with hope and possibility, which is a rare artistic niche. Musically, his finger-picking guitar style gently paces the musical approach which is rooted in the post-folk music singer-songwriter genre. His producer and accompanist, guitarist/keyboardist Don Peris (Innocence Mission), adds even more space and ambiance, and finishing touches are provided by guests like indie-rock fave Sufjan Stevens (vocals, keyboards, guitar, recorders), James McAlister (whose drumming is a surprise standout for such a gentle album), and beautiful harmony vocals by Karen Peris among others. If you resonate with these comments, I don't see how you can go wrong with this album-- it's a classic of its genre and one of the best albums of 2005."

Music for Soothing

G. Doll | Los Angeles, CA | 11/23/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This album is perfect as a soft folk driven release. Any fan of indie-folk will enjoy this solid collection of personal songs about life; it's not to be underestimated. This album wraps you up in comfort and leaves you quietly content, wanting more. I reccomend this album to anyone looking to just feel good as they listen."