Friday, August 11, 2006

Dreams So Real...

This is why I love love eBay. Some would say that what I'm about to describe is an extension of The Long Tail by virtue of the public marketplace of discarded goods. Whatever. I just love the fact that I can find music that I liked at one time, that is now hopelessly out of print, purchase it and once again enjoy it. Granted I'm not doing it stoned in my dorm room anymore, but I must say I'm just as pleased with what I've found on eBay as I was when I was an 18 year old new waver with ridiculously dyed hair. I'm relatively new to this whole eBay thing but in the last few months I've bought 2 bowling balls, The Connells One Simple Word (long out of print) and Dream So Real's Rough Night In Jericho. Dreams So Real dove tailed quite nicely with my REM obsession as they were also an Athens band and plyed that same jangly territory. But much more than REM Dreams So Real went for the big anthemic choruses, soaring, overwrought, a little cheesy, fun to sing along to choruses. That epic sweeping sound was definitely a weakness of mine, it's possible all the hair bleach was affecting my hearing. Unfortunately Dreams So Real never made the big time and faded into relative obscurity after a few records which received tepid critical praise and a smattering of a devoted following.

I was quite happy when I won Rough Night In Jericho on eBay for about $12 including shipping, which I'm sure was less then I paid for it at Kemp Mill Records at White Flint Plaza in 1988. I'd been obsessing on the song "California", humming the chorus over and over for some odd reason, but honestly I couldn't remember the name of the band. But it just goes to show you that the internet has made even the slightest of notions achievable as just googling the lyrics of the chorus eventually led me to Dreams So Real.

Evidently, lead singer Barry Marler now works in the biochemistry department at the University of Georgia, thus dispelling the notion that rock n' roll eats your brain. Told ya, Grandma.

If you've made it this far you will be rewarded with songs. Please enjoy the final result of my brief obsession:

from Dream So Real's 1988 album Rough Night In Jericho:

California

Rough Night In Jericho

posted by Peter @ 2:24 PM 

10 Comments:

Anonymous Anonymous said...

Kudos to you, sir, for giving Dreams So Real a little love. I attended the University of Georgia in the late '80s-early '90s, and Dreams So Real were a huge part of that era for me.

I often wonder whether or not music truly was more, um...maybe adventuorous is the word I'm looking for... well, anyway, another attempt: I often wonder whether or not music that had at least a passing acquaintance with the mainstream in the mid- to late-'80s really was more- for lack of a better term- interesting than the current scene. Some would accuse me of trafficking in nostalgia, right? I don't know...

Perhaps it was the fact it was not just more difficult to find the music itself, it was no small feat to even find out about new artists...

Anyway, thanks for the brief foray down memory lane. I like the blog.

11:43 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I share Jeremy's sentiments. Thank you! DSR like several other Athens bands of the same era was simply ahead of their time and deserve to be rediscovered.

7:32 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I have the CD Rough Night in Jericho. I am looking for any other releases.

11:34 PM  
Blogger Unknown said...

I wore this CD out in '88 and then traded it in for cash at a local record store, Record and Tape Traders in Baltimore. A couple weeks ago I downloaded some old REM and suddenly remembered this band. The whole CD is great. Sorry to see the met the same fate as the Connels, Judybats, Toad the Wet Sprocket and others. I saw Glen Phillips a couple months ago (lead singer from Toad) and it was incredible. A must see. Back to DSR, It was a great time for music. Peter, I am glad that you found it for $12. I haven't been able to find it for less than $25. thanks for reminding everyone about it. Their stock price just went up!

7:36 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I also attended UGA in the mid/late 80's. I remember going to see DSR at The Cotton Club in ATL many times. I loved that band! I stupidly gave away my Jericho cd.

5:43 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Thanks Peter,
I've been searching for 'Rough Night in Jericho' for over 15 years now but haven't been able to buy a CD or download the track. In India, where I live, no music store has ever heard of it. Now thanks to you, I finally have it. Once again, my eternal thanks!!!
Doc

5:11 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Hello from Atlanta, GA. Stumbled upon this today after having a "dream" that reminded me of this band. Outstanding post. Thanks so much. Cheers gentlemen.
-tob

7:15 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Guess I'm not the only one who spent years writing down song titles with the intention of buying them all someday! Fortunately I snagged Jericho onto a CD early in the Napster days. But try to find the lyrics! Any help?

I had to own this song because I need it for the soundtrack of the movie based on the book I haven't written yet...

If this song doesn't get you rocking out, please call 9-1-1 and check for a pulse!

HW346

1:41 PM  
Blogger Big Lon said...

Glad to see some kindred souls who still appreciate the music that defined my identity during my college days at The University of Tennessee. I loved Dreams So Real, Love Tractor, Walk The West, The Connells, Brian and The Nightmares, Pylon, The DB's, The Judybats, Let's Active, Guadalcanal Diary and of course R.E.M. I've had "Red Lights" by Dreams So Real bouncing around my head all week, odd given that it's March and that's a Christmas song but I savor being a little odd.

8:42 AM  
Blogger Big Lon said...

This comment has been removed by the author.

8:42 AM  

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