Dan Ashley reminds us that life is all about love and joy with his new album Out There. Smart tracks about today’s issues collide with carefree songs that will make you nostalgic for an everlasting Summer. Blending classic rock with hints of Country music, Out There feels patriotic and personal. Ashley wisely explores the highs and lows of daily life in America. An immediate stand out is opening track “River City”. It’s slightly narrative lyrics make some of the topical themes in “River City” feel fresh and familiar. Ashley’s performance feels like he’s having a conversation with listener’s rather than crooning to them.
Ashley never preaches at you on Out There, he keeps the politics mild but the passions high. Out There is a celebration of the little things more than anything else. The second track, “Redbud Road”, is a trip down memory lane. “Redbud Road” is a song about nostalgia that sets the scene for you with opening lyrics, “Fireflies, deep blue skies/ Sun flashing through pine trees.” Ashley immediately transports us into a sentimental state of mind and he keeps us there for the entirety of the song. “Redbud Road” highlights the worn in quality of Ashley’s voice well. The power and emotion in Ashley’s performance reminds me Bruce Springsteen on “Born In The U.S.A.”.
A stand out aspect of Out There are the guitar riffs, melodies, and the drums. Each song maintains its own identity with prominent drums and rhythm guitar. Ashley’s album is a smooth listen, with a cogent track list. Dan Ashley is skilled at evoking precise emotional atmospheres for each song. I can tell that every tack was carefully crafted with an enthusiasm that seems to penetrate the entire album. Another noticeable trait of Out There is its celebration of life and music. Although the woes of society appear on Out There, this album leaves you feeling hope for the future. It doesn’t linger on anything heavy for too long and it is never cynical.
SONGWHIP: https://songwhip.com/dan-ashley/out-there
Out There also includes one of the first songs I’ve heard that is explicitly about the COVID-19 pandemic. “We Stayed Home” is a catchy song that is a snapshot of the early days of life in the pandemic. Ashley works his magic again by creating a song that unifies listener’s by singing about the experience we all had two years ago. With ample opportunity to fall into a bleak outlook, “We Stayed Home” stays bright and hopeful. The lyrics in the chorus “spirit strong as bone” and “We stayed home/but no one was alone” turn this song into an anthem. Ashley captures the complicated emotions of living through a global pandemic while he brings people together with his music.
Dan Ashley’s Out There is a nostalgic, poetic, and bold album that inspires you to hope. It is a feel-good album to its core and back. Ashley’s passion for making music can be felt from beginning to end and makes you excited to listen to each song. Out There swiftly navigates cultural and personal issues without overwhelming listeners. There are no misses on Out There.
Chadwick Easton