| In My Dreams - Rick Trevino | |
|
Reviewed by Matt Bjorke
In late 1993, a young and handsome Hispanic Texan began taking the country music world by storm. Rick Trevino was barely into his twenties when he signed his recording contract with Columbia Records Nashville. Knowing the dual market for a bilingual artist, Sony had Rick record country CDs in Spanish and English to great success. His first two CDs contained quite a few hits ("She Can't Say I Didn't Cry," "Bobbie Ann Mason") but when the time came for Rick to record his third CD, he was tired of his Hispanic heritage and wanted to concentrate on just the mainstream country music. That CD garnered more hits (Like his only No. 1 hit "Running Out Of Reasons To Run") but didn't sell as well as expected so the label dropped Rick after a couple singles failed to reach the Top 40.
Shocked by that turn of events, Rick took some time off to live his life and eventually joined the Latin super group Los Super Seven and proceeded to win a Grammy for Best Mexican/American album. When they recorded a second CD, Rick and his friends were joined by Raul Malo of the Mavericks. The partnership of Rick and Raul would lead to Rick taking part of Los Super Seven with him and look for a new recording contract. Signed to Warner Brothers Records in late 2002, Rick Trevino was back but this time he was going to do things his way. Raul produced the new CD, In My Dreams while co-writing most of the songs with Rick. Featuring 10 songs, the CD is a departure from the slick sounding country/pop of Rick's earlier efforts in favor of a sound not all that different than the Mavericks' first two records.
"Overnight Success" is a humorous honky tonk song about a life of a man who had everything comes easy to him so he says: "I've been living on easy street; it's all worked out so perfectly, it’s just part of the life I guess, of an overnight success." With a sound that one might think were a Dwight Yoakam song, "Overnight Success" is a traditional leaning track that certainly could liven up radio a bit.
As the first single, "In My Dreams" sends a statement that Rick Trevino is back and is a changed man. Gone are the country clothes and ten-gallon hat and there is a distinct Latin groove to his music that doesn't eschew the traditional country flavor. Instead, the song embraces many styles that showcase the strong vocals the classically trained pianist has possessed all along. The lyrics and melody tell a haunting story of a man who may have lost the love of his life but he'll be content to still have her in his dreams.
"Downside Of Love" is a Roy Orbison styled ballad that would make the vocal wonder proud. About a couple who's going through a rough patch in their marriage, the song is a positive look at the ups and downs that all lasting relationships go through and how divorce and break-ups aren't always the right way to go about things.
"What A Beautiful Day" has a sound to it that is strikingly similar to sound to those great Maverick's records of the mid 1990's. If those songs could be hits at radio, there's no reason why Rick cannot have a hit with this nice 3 minute midtempo love song.
"So Over" at first glance is a barn burining honky tonker of a good relationship but by the time the chorus kicks in the song goes to a slow tear-in-your-beer ballad only to return back to the uptempo sounds on the next verse. The song is unique and different and may just get Rick some airplay if released as a single.
As the lone song Rick and Raul Malo didn't write, "Have You Ever Really Loved A Woman" is quite a surprise. A pop ballad from the late 1990's from Bryan Adams, Rick turns this into a soft and tender countrypolitan ballad with a heavy Latin feel to it. The Spanish guitar tones (Think of Tracy Byrd's "Just Let Me Be In Love") really give the song a distinct sound and if any song were to re-introduce Rick to radio it would be this one. What makes the song a tad long for radio is its Spanish chorus at the end but the song really tells us what Rick is about now.
Rick Trevino has seen the highs associated with an "Overnight Success" without much critical praise. During his return to his Latin roots, Rick experienced critical praise and realized that he had to do things his way, whether radio and Nashville liked it or not, to be happy. Thankfully both Nashville and radio seem to like Rick enough for us all to hear his wonderful new album, In My Dreams.
Song List:
Album cover used with permission of Warner Nashville.
Click on the button below to find the best price for this CD and purchase it from a retailer on the Internet.
