When Joe Macre says “the dream is free; the pain’s sold separately”, believe him. This is not an article about Crack the Sky. Look the band up. Joe Macre has a little slice of rock history reserved for himself and though I’m sure he wishes it was written a bit differently, history is history. He hasn’t let professional bad luck sabotage his spirit or derail his love for the dream, however. His latest album, The Dream is Free, makes it clear that he continues pursuing it.
BANDCAMP: https://joemacsamericangarage.bandcamp.com/
Macre opens with the title song. “The Dream is Free” has room for reflection in the words, but it’s also charged both lyrically and musically with a sense of living in the present and only allowing the past purchase to inform decisions, rather than controlling them. Progressive rock fans will particularly enjoy the “fanfare” Macre composed for the track and his superb talents for constructing songs in this style serve him well.
The challenging opening to “Tell Me” is driven by some of Macre’s best bass playing. It punctuates the ascending drama culminating with the first verse and recurring throughout the track. His vocal harmonies are especially effective, and the song’s insistent emotional quality will linger with listeners.
“Ride or Die” has a harder edge than the prior tracks but nevertheless incorporates significant synth textures driving the performance. Macre buries his voice deeper in the mix than I might otherwise like and might have better served his vocal cause stripping effects from his singing. The guitar solo during the song’s second half is especially tasty.
“Drop Me Off at the Rainbow” provides the album with one of its more heartfelt moments and the mix of universal and personal he’s able to achieve with its lyrics is an avenue he should continue traveling. The acoustic guitar is strong and a welcome change of pace from The Dream is Free’s standard instrumentation. The album’s bass playing remains one of its key strengths during the song “These Cool Years” as the pumping recurrent rhythmic motif provides a crucial hook that underpins the song. Slashing guitar lays staccato riffing over the top to help make the track one of the collection’s best.
APPLE MUSIC: https://music.apple.com/us/album/the-dream-is-free/1635211681?i=1635211682
“Tomorrow is Today” further raises the emotional ante with a towering blend of drums, guitar, bass, and keyboards/synthesizer. The power pop inclinations underlying Macre’s progressive songwriting will sound familiar to any fans of the genre, but it doesn’t strike a false note and there’s a clear attempt to carve out his own niche. You can’t argue with the song’s message – the future is today, always.
The slowly evolving yet dramatic guitar atmospherics opening “The Dark Sky Sea” segues into a broader arrangement with synthesizers and additional instruments joining. It’s a masterful and thoughtful reflection ending the release and the sole misstep may come with the abundant effects layered into his vocal. This boils down to personal taste, however, and definitely doesn’t diminish his message. Joe Macre’s The Dream is Free is a must-hear for any fans, any age, of meaningful progressive rock, but there’s more. Anyone who appreciates solid songwriting should value this release.
Gwen Waggoner, posted by Chadwick Easton