As a continuation of an EP released in 2019 called The Days, Hailey Whitters released her first full length album in 5 years entitled The Dream. And dream she does, with very little real payoff. But as she sings in the album’s closing track “Living the Dream,” it’s more about the journey to get to success than the actual realization of success itself.
Whitters spends most of this album striving for an end game, but never really achieving it. And that’s kind of the point. Life isn’t always wrapped up in a neat little bow. It’s often uncomfortable, unsettling and thought-provoking. If a story is supposed to have a beginning, middle and end, this album sits firmly in the middle of her story.
Surprisingly, there are only 3 previously unheard songs on this album. The first six songs were released on her aforementioned 2019 EP, “Janice at the Hotel Bar” was released as the album’s lead single, and there are two covers, “Happy People” and “The Devil Always Made Me Think Twice,” by Little Big Town (but co-written by Whitters) and Chris Stapleton respectively.
Current single “Janice at the Hotel Bar,” “Heartland” and “The Faker” serve as standout songs on this collection. Reminiscent of “Merry Go Round” by Kacey Musgraves, “Janice” acts as the story of a woman with a great deal of old school yet timeless wisdom that she’s trying to impart on a younger generation. “Heartland” takes on the same kind of play on words as Lady Antebellum’s “Heart Break,” but in a way that still feels fresh. “The Faker” calls out an ex that made her look like a fool, with such biting lyrics as “fancy clothes don’t dress up cheap.”
If you’re looking for clarity and closure in your music, maybe The Dream isn’t for you. But if you want an honest portrayal of life’s journey, maybe give this album a try. You can decide for yourself as you listen to the album by clicking here.
