Customer Reviews

Rough Night in Jericho

5 star:		(17)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I first heard of these guys in college in 1988, when I went to go see The Church in concert and a band I had never heard of called Dreams So Real were opening. They pretty much just played this album in a different order (as another reviewer remarked) and I was blown away. The next day, I went to the local record store and bought the album. I was blown away again, and about 15 years later, this album still gets consistent play. REM comparisons aren't totally out of order (DSR were from Athens, also) but these guys incorporate more straight-ahead rock into their sound. Standout tracks are...um...all 10. Seriously, the album hangs together spectacularly. From the hard rocking opener "Rough Night In Jericho", to the gospel tinged "Bearing Witness", to the great closer "Love Fall Down", this has been one of my all time faves since my first listen. I have a huge music collection, and there just aren't many records I can say that about. Follow the advice of everyone who has reviewed this unknown (a travesty indeed) classic and hunt down a copy of this great rock record.

It's a crying shame this band never made it. Their passion, their lyrics, their hooks were all top-notch. No one said the music industry was fair, and "Rough Night in Jericho" by Dreams So Real could be Exhibit A. Like a more raw version of R.E.M., this Athens trio may have been slightly ahead of their time; this disc would have been right at home in any early-1990s modern-rock playlist. The driving and haunted title track, the shimmering "Bearing Witness," the wistful "California" and the hope-against-hope set closer "Love Fall Down" are timeless treasures. Heck, the whole album is excellent. This hidden gem is, in my opinion, of the best albums of the 1980s, if not the last few decades. It's that good.

This was the best band... where are they now?? great lyrics, great music.... just a GREAT band. They should have made it..I could always tell their hearts were in their music...live or recorded...

this might be the MOST underrated album of the last 25 years. Dreams So Real whips up a collection of songs filled with themes of introspective regret, visions of Biblical cataclysms, and reflections on the joy (and the "nervous unknown") of what love TRULY is. the whole album "snaps" and "glows" with the relentless "crackling" energy of the embers of a late-night wind-blown campfire in the wee hours of a Georgia evening. the production is great, the songs are superb AND the entire journey is a wonderfully melodic, jangling pop-rock trip saddled with introspective urgency. a real beauty and a MUST have.

This is hands down one of the best albums out of my collection of over 600. The rock is timeless and each song stands on its' own. Yes, if I was on an island this would be in my top 3 choices...

This is still one of the best albums I own and I now have it engraved for perpetuity in my MP3 player. It took over where the good REM albums left off and was my favorite album for two years before the Gin Blossoms New Miserable came out.
Great live band for a 3 piece too. Wish they were here.

I first heard their title cut "Rough Night in Jericho" on a college radio station and thought "man that's good." Shortly after I saw them live at a small bar in Alabama. Incredible performance by one of the best bands I've ever heard. Chances are if you liked one song from the RNIJ CD you'd like them all. Not to say they sound alike, but rather the serious lyrics with fast tempos combination is really contagious. Sadly DSR has disbanded which is a tragedy. Outside of a few listeners who search for the lesser-known gems DSR will not achieve the widespread recognition they deserve. But don't feel bad for them. They enjoyed the ride and each have moved on to successful careers. Maybe if we are lucky they will play a reunion now and then. Fingers crossed.

I saw them live at Bessie's Boathouse in Norfolk, VA. Awesome show. They only had one CD out so they played the whole thing in just different order. This is one of those rare CD's where if you like their sound on one song, you'll love the whole thing. There is no filler on this CD, it's all good and I love the lyrical stories they tell. I'd love to hear the rest of the story beyond the lyrics, but I'm sure they're all very personal. This band is intense. There's an element of religious faith weaves through the songs. Yet, this CD came out before religious rock came out of the closet and went mainstream. With the Athens, GA roots I wonder if Barry Marler is teaching school back there? Thanks guys for one great CD!

Not enough can be said about how catchy this album is.
For those of you who wonder what happened to the band:
Barry is working for the University of Georgia (Athens) in the Dept. of Biochemestry and Molecular Biology.
I hear the Trent Allen is a Graphic Artist living in Athens and Drew Worsham is playing drums in cover bands along the Georgia coast when not working as a computer technician.
On a sad note, Drew was shot in the face by the ex boyfriend of his girlfriend. The bullet didn't enter his brain, but lodged in his eye socket. I hear he's recovered. Our prayers are with him.

Many moons ago, I bought this, on a whim, as a cut out demo from a used record store, and was blown away. The overall sound was superior to most of the better know comparable bands of the time. The subsequent release (Gloryline)was almost, but not quite as strong (I would give that 4 stars). I recently dug it out of my collection, and was hooked again. Wondering how music this good can be so overlooked, and yet other stuff will be so overplayed.