Anthony's DRN Album Reviews



Hi there!  This is where I get to write what I think about each one of DRN's songs.  See how my opinions compare to yours..

BREATHLESS. Dan Reed Network's actual FIRST release EP. I had no Idea that this EP even existed until I heard from Joe Dinero that they actually DID make something before the Blue & Gray album. This collection is more keyboard heavy than the later stuff but I like the prominent keys myself.

The first song "Breathless" is quite a departure from what I was used to as far as DRN type music. Not a bad song at all. Dan sings a lot lower than usual & it has more of an ethereal new wave-ish type feel. The beat rivals Prince's "1999". Brion's guitar solo is a screecher of a good one.

"Mind And Body" is the second track. DRN performed this song live a few times. The live version is a lot more "rockin" than this EP version, but it is still one of the best "riff songs" I've listened to.

"Fire In The House" starts out with a hybrid Van Halen meets David Bowie (Let's Dance) groove which is pretty impressive & then has this sax riff that ALMOST makes you wish they still had a sax player (almost). Great background vocals complete this winner.

"Steal Me" is a beautiful song. If I would have had this album back in 1986, this would have probably been one of my favorite songs for many years. An old fashioned love song made for slow dances with the girl of your dreams in your arms.

"Eye on You" is a pretty good song with another good beat. Not as spectacular as "Fire In the House" but not what I call a Fast foreworder. Overall, the "Breathless" EP is a damn fine piece of work. Some might say it's "Too '80s" or too "pop" sounding, but hey, I like that kinda stuff!

"Dan Reed Network". Sometimes called the "Debut" album. I call it the "Blue & Gray" album. I heard "Ritual" a couple times on the radio & thought "This is one of the wildest songs I've ever heard!". A friend of mine let me borrow the tape & as I listened to it at work, I realized that "Get To You" (another good song I heard on the radio) was a DRN song as well. I quickly got into the rest of it (after I bought the disc) & that is how I became a DRN fan.

"World Has A Heart Too" unfortunately for me is the kind of song I usually fast foreword through. Semi-political (everyone BETTER be nice or else!) & not my cup of tea. There's nothing wrong with being a good man, I think I'm one of the nicest people I know, but I try to set an example, not preach.

"Get To You" has one of the best keyboard riffs I've ever heard. (right after the lyrics: "Get To You"... The key change at the end of the song even is a success. (I usually don't like key changes at the end of songs..).

"Ritual" has that jungle opening & the intense "ooh-uh-oh-oh.. ey-la.." chanting that makes this song a frighteningly pounding freight train of a tune.

"Forgot To Make Her Mine". This song is ok, but not repetitive listening for me. Kind of a plain riff.  It does grow on me though, and I do find myself singing along with the lyrics every time it shows up on my CD player.

"Tamin' the Wild Nights" is probably the best song on this album. Brion's Unbelievably emotional guitar solo creates just the right tone. Blakes keyboard part during the verses is what makes the song for me. I can relate to these words as I've had relationships where I've been in love with someone but fought quite a bit. I never seemed to think it "Feels Good" as Dan writes in this tune, but still, the subject matter is something I've never heard before.

"I'm So Sorry" is a good tune, but I feel pretty much the same towards it as I do to "Forgot To Make Her Mine."

"Resurrect" has that waltzy 6/8 beat that I usually don't care for, but this song is a rocker & a half. Dan's vocals are some of the best he's ever sung & it changed my mind about 6/8 time music.

"Baby don't fade" is a bit too plain for me, but the harmony sung on the lyrics: "Baby Don't Fade" save it from my fast foreword finger.

"Human" is another good dance tune with an uplifting progression. The rhythm guitar + the pingy keys make this groove. 57 seconds in to the song, you can tell that a splice was done. Can you hear it too?

"Halfway around the world" is another ballad & I love most of the slow songs that DRN does. This one doesn't quite make the "Beautiful" list. I think the choppy drum track ruins it for me.

"Rock You All Night Long".. Freight train of rock #2! The 20 second HEAVY METAL section of this song starting at 3:00 rivals some of the best Heavy Metal riffs I've ever heard. The ending - fading into "Their Aint No Love in the Heart of the City" was done flawlessly & is the "Cigarette" at the end of the album.

"Tatiana" is the 3rd song on my "Beautiful" list. The kind of tune I would listen to if I was away from the girl I love (There isn't one at the moment) for a long time. The Cello keyboard part is great. This album was one of those "They'll never be able to top that" works. I felt this way until I heard...

"SLAM". What a treat this disc was! Not only did I see the "DDD" symbol (digital recording, mixing, right to CD) but there were 13 SONGS! I really didn't think that the first album "Blue & Grey" would be topped but I was wrong.

"Make It Easy" was not bad, but nothing special to me. A repetitive plain riff to my taste.

"Slam" gave me the same kind of feeling.   Also, the damned politics were showing up.  I wasn't worried though.. 11 more songs to go!

"Tiger In A Dress" was a kicker! I love the beat & the intro, & the guitar work is fantastic. Some have said they don't like this tune much, I guess I'm in the minority. I'll listen to the songs 5 times at least before I even start to pay attention to the actual words. Music first for me.

"Rainbow Child". One of my favorite DRN tunes. A sweet poem written from the heart about people that Dan Reed saw at a Grateful Dead show. Still, the moving music of this one makes it the kind of song I'll jam with my band on. (I can even sing it & play the drums at the same time! This is not easy. Ask Dan Pred.)

"Doin' the Love Thing" is another "Pushing Dan's vocal chords to the limit" effort. Great guitar riff.  Excellent groove! (UPDATED 11/6/03):  After meeting my girlfriend in late June 2003, I for some reason had the lyrics in this song in my head.  I knew it was "Doin' the Love Thing" and found myself listening to the song again, over and over.  This should've been a hit!  It's unbelievably powerful and kick ass!  A few good listens many years later, take a listen of the awesome percussion and guitar work.  The lyrics?  Hell, I never listen to lyrics, but these are...  I'm speechless.  This is an incredible song.  From the beginning "DO THE LOVE THING" chants to the pounding rhythm..  This is an unbelievably unbelievable song.

"Stronger Than Steel" is also on Anthony's "Beautiful" list. Great lyrics, Good song.  Absolutely the best.  The Acoustic version on "Mixin' It Up" is wonderful too!

"Cruise together" is a winner. Eerily intense beat & really good lyrics. "We Don't Care, You & I... We'll Cruise Together". Couldnt be better.

"Under My Skin". My favorite part is the harmony on "Skiiiiiin.." A rockin one & a fast one. I like fast songs.

"Lover". One of my all time favorite DRN songs of all time! I asked Dan Reed himself before a show if they were going to play it. He immediately said "We Are Now!" & sure enough, he actually ended the show with that one. I couldn't believe how good it sounded live! I must have listened to this song hundreds of times. The acoustic guitar sounds excellent, & the Keyboard part during the bridge is fantastic. Probably my #1 fave DRN song.

"I'm lonely please stay" is really good tune. Also one of my faves. Uplifting & powerful.

"Come Back Baby" is another fast foreworder for me. Plain bluesy riff.

"All my lovin'" was a song I used to like a lot. I still think it's a good tune, but not one I repeat much anymore. Good harmony "ahhh"s in the beginning. Truthfully, I love singing along to this one!

"Seven Sister's Road" sounds even more fun to play than to listen to, but it's still a kick to hear. I admire how fast & accurate Dan can sing this one. Dan P's drums keep this one bouncin' & the ending is so catchy that I end up ending a lot of our band's songs the same way! (long silence, then that double bass tap, snare flam, & another tap, & POW!) "Slam" is my absolute favorite disc out of 'em all.

"The Heat" seemed to take forever to arrive in stores. I was so poor at this time that I bought the cassette not the disc! (I didn't get the disk until 1996). More political than any previous DRN album, it still has grown on me.

"Baby Now I" is one of my "all time favorite DRN songs of all time". It doesn't get any better than this. This song was featured in the movie "The Cutting Edge" which I saw before I even heard that the song was in it. I was really touched by the film in which a hockey player becomes a figure skater (It's better than it sounds) & that GIRL! I'd skate (& fall on my butt) with her anytime!!. The song is featured during a bar scene in which the two by now uptight skaters finally let loose for one evening. To me, it's the video for the song. This one is usually on "Repeat" in the car when I want to get somewhere fast!

"Blame It On The Moon" is a pretty good song but I'm not sure if I like the change between the verses & the chorus. Doesn't seem to fit. The lyrics are also pretty much just a hardcore version of "I'm So Sorry".

"Mix It Up." a TOTAL Fast foreworder. The sound bite at the beginning of George Bush only seems to be a bad attempt at saying "OK. This is a political song".. More lyrics about how bad the world is & that everyone BETTER be better. Seeing the Parental Advisory sticker on the back cover was a disappointment. I was hoping DRN would not end up with those on their work.   If I want cussing done well on an album, I'll pop in my Pantera CD's!

"Mix It Up" is on my "Worst DRN songs of all time" list. George Bush says "This Victory belongs to the finest fighting force this nation has known in it's history". He's damned right!

"The Heat" is on my "Plain riffs" list. Not bad, but nothing special to me.

"Let It Go" is a "beautiful" song. From the brushes on the drums to the piano part & Melvin's harmonic plucks at the beginning, This one is a tune I've played over & over again. I try to sing the words but will never be able to do it as well as Dan. I only wish it had stayed at the mellow level in the beginning for the whole song.

"Love Don't Work That Way" is another "Freight Train of Rock!" including more "Resurrect" style vocals that prove that Dan is the best singer in the world from the mellow to the harsh. Blake's Keys right after the lyrics "Love Don't Work That Way" make the song.

"Money". a cover of the Pink Floyd classic - is in 4/4 time! Easier to dance to, & done better than Pink Floyd did it, but I've never cared for the song anyway.

"Chill Out". Starts out as a great tune with an old fashioned mix creating the feeling it's coming out of the Walton's living room radio, but then the old politics come out. More "You'd BETTER be as GOOD as I am.."

"Life Is Sex" is a plain bluesy riff yawner for me with a shuffle beat, however, the chords during the verses are pretty cool.

"The Salt Of Joy" starts out with this beautiful (yes, I use that word a lot!) keyboard-organ part & then the accoustic guitars follow. It pushes my "Political Preaching" button, but there's more of a humble & hopeful tone to the lyrics of this one. Like "Let It Go", I wish it would have stayed at the same mellow volume level throughout the song, but hey, that's just me.

"Take My Hand" Has one of the best beginnings of any DRN tune. A nice moving piece it is.

"The Lonely Sun" used to be an Anthony Fast foreword tune until a fan asked me to give it another try.  Glad I did.   Very good rhythmical groove song.

"Thy Will Be Done" Yeah, so a lot of our politicians are corrupt. So, VOTE! I watch CNN to hear bad news about the government. I read the paper for bad news about the country, & I listen to news radio to hear bad things about the world. I listen to music for other reasons. Next.....

"Wake Up". Excellent groove on this one. Harmony on the chorus is exceptional. Flowing lyrics with a hint of you know what. The music during the post chorus.. "It's not too late to wake up.. Aaaaaah" part is very similar to Julian Lennon's "Stick Around" chorus. (just in case somebody wants to see if it's true!)

"Long Way To Go". Oh God, yet another political preach song.  If I listened to this over & over, Yeah, it would seem like we'd never get "there".

As you may have guessed, "The Heat" is my least favorite DRN album. During the Heat tour, the only song of this disc I remember them performing (once at each show) was "Mix It Up" & Dan would say something like, "Thanks for letting me get that off my chest...." & then go back to Slammin! No, I'm not against "Serious" songs, but I guess I've grown to understand that I won't write a political preachy song because I don't know every frickin thing & I don't care for songs like that.

I welcome ANY comments you have on the above reviews. E-mail me at anthony@danreed.com & I WILL respond. Thanks!

Back to the Main Dan Reed Network Fan Page