Customer Reviews

Street Dreams (Reis)

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I have been a Pat Metheny fan for a long time. So, a couple of years ago I found a cassette of this album somewhere and bought it unheard. It is one of my favorites. Some numbers have a big band feel and others are more what you would expect from someone who plays with Metheny. It is wonderful to listen to when your heading down the road in your car on a nice day, and feeling good. But, Mays and Metheny's music has a way of lifting one up on its own. There is also some nice keyboard work that dazzles anyone who knows how to listen. Actually, I find myself writing this review only because I logged onto Amazon to see if by chance this album was available on CD. It appears to be available, but I will have to wait a week or so. Suffice it to say, that if you enjoy Metheny, you will enjoy this. It is jazz that is immediate and innovative, but it is accessible. Money well spent.

Years ago, I walked into a music store wanting to stock up on a few items. The man behind the counter placed this blue and red bubbly looking album cover on the playing now stand and what happened stopped me dead in my tracks. Suddenly, the most beautiful music started filling the store and I stood in a stunned silence, seduced by one of the most beautiful songs, ever composed; "Before you Go." I then bought Street Dreams and Lyle Mayes, two albums I never tire of. Over the years they evolved to tapes and then to CDs. But I must say that Street Dreams, particularly the previously mentioned cut and the title suite, "Street Dreams," are stellar. I had a wonderful moment when I played "Street Dreams" at the Stroke of Midnight On New Years about 10 years ago. My friends, even the ones not into jazz, LOVED it. To this day, I love this entire album, because it truly takes me to another place

Perhaps Lyle's best album ever (and I'm also including all of the Pat Metheny group albums which I think Lyle deserves 50% credit for). This album sets the standards for New Age music and Jazz. When I need an escape from Reality, I can't think of a better album to go to than this one. Like all of Lyle's music this album will need more than one listen for the listener to appreciate the sheer beauty and profoundness of his music. Prepare to be transformed by musical angels!

Hot on the heels of 1986's acclaimed 'Lyle Mays', 'Sweet Dreams' was the first album released produced for CD (i.e. beyond the maximum playing time of the single LP) by Metheny's co-composer. The Pat Metheny Group were at the peak of their popular success, and the switch from the ECM to the Geffen label had proved highly rewarding. It seemed the band could do no wrong.

Then Lyle released this album and put his solo recording career on hold for five years, until the release of 1993's 'fictionary'. For 'Sweet Dreams', Lyle abandoned the tightly knit band that had worked so well on the debut album, and instead gone for a multiple format. Out went Alex Acuna, in came a seven-piece brass section here and a chamber orchestra there. Designed to showcase the breadth of his compositional and arranging skills, the CD sounds more like a Donald Fagen solo, or late Steely Dan album, particularly on the early tracks.

The CD is excellently recorded. The complex title piece is fascinating -- a sort of 'Wichita Falls' for orchestra. It's a good-ish album, but one that I find hard to love.

I am a long time fan of Pat Metheny,and very well aware of Lyle Mays contribution to the style and success of PMG.I even had Lyle's first self titled album,so I thought I had some idea of what I was in for,in buying Street Dreams.Not so.I did not like it one little bit.I wondered what the hell it was that I had gone and bought.The most bizzare,off the wall,eccentric,and intensely dark album I'd ever heard.I played it 1,2,3,4,times,and no joy. It didn't click.
That was some 15yrs ago,oddly enough,I still have this album,and even more oddly,I love this album.It has grown on me over the years.Very Steely Dan'ish,with a whip-cracking horn section,and an absolutely stunning Chamber orchestra,with a very dark,other worldly,urban atmosphere to it.
Favourite tracks,well,Possible Straight with the "New York" sounding horn section takes the cake,as does track 10 from the Street Dreams title suite,the most spooky,evocative tune I have ever heard,with a "spine chilling,hairs stand on end, give you goose bumps" bass clarinet solo....Yikes!!!!!Give you the absolute shivers!!!
This is NOT a party , warm summer's day type album.You've really got to be in the mood for it,and you've really got to sit and listen, because there is just so much to it.Jam packed with brilliant musicianship,instrumentation,and arranging,and intriguing songs.
This is an album with a lot to offer if one is willing to take the risk and time.
I quietly, and hesitantly,....er...um....well.....recommend it.

For anyone who enjoys the multi-hued work of both Mays and his long-time associate Pat Metheny, this album is a must. At times, the sheer breadth of the music makes it seem a little stylistically disjointed, but you can't really expect anything less from a man whose grasp of so many musical idioms is so complete. At times quiet and contemplative, at times lively and spirited, it all bears the Mays trademark breathtaking virtuosity - I firmly believe that Mays is one of the most underrated talents of the time and has lived in the shadow of Metheny for too long...

Speaking as someone who loves the Pat Metheny Group and Lyle Mays' playing in general, I'd have to say that this CD is a mixed bag. Some might find it a bit cheesy or trite. But when Lyle gets into his serious soloing he really shines. Sometimes sounds like he doesn't know exactly what he's trying to do - he tries to mix different jazz idioms - big band, electronic, fusion, etc., with occassional success. I would recommend his first album over this, but this one is a good "minor" addition to any Metheny/Mays collection.

Lyle Mays oudid himself on this musical treasure that blends jazz,fusion,electronica in a very intelligent and innovative way.Very atmospheric,'Street Dreams'goes beyond the average representatives of the genre.In many respects similar to the Pat Metheny Group at their best-in terms of inspiration and credibility,while exploring some new musical territories.

Lyle Mays compositions are absolutely fabulous all albums are great.
The 2 first albums are similar in character and influence very beautiful modern jazz compositions. Lyle is supported playing with the greatest musicians. The other 2 more recent albums are quite different, yet very impressive work, in particular the "Fictionary".

This was Lyle's follow-up to his self-titled debut album of 1986 and unfortunately the attempt at imitation fell short.
One of Street Dream's major problems is that the previous album was a certifiable masterpiece (one cd which I would risk my life to salvage if my house caught fire!) & was therefore an incredibly hard act to follow. Another problem is that I'm generally unimpressed with Lyle's keyboard set-up; quite often his tone sounds cheesy &/or like a "popsicle" (eg Chorinho & Hangtime); I really like it when Lyle uses synths as texture for his piano playing - here he seems to have inverted this rule to his detriment. I also think he could have done away with the Chamber Orchestra which only succeeds in inhibiting Lyle's usual free-flowing "tone colour" compositional & performance approach.
Finally, the material itself needed editing & more time to develop fresh ideas. Best examples of this are "Before you go" which starts off just the same as Hangtime finishes & then descends into almost pure schmaltz & the Title track which tries to deliver another masterpiece in the vein of "Alaskan Suite" but fails to breathe or evoke anything other than a seeming haste to get the record out.
Look, overall "Street Dreams" is not a "bad" album but IMHO Lyle really needed to take a step back at some point & have a major re-think of some of the material & the instrumentation/musicians needed to fully realise it.