Will Dailey has always had a gleam of rock star status in my eyes. Couple that with the fact that he is down to earth, approachable, and just a good guy and you may seem confused…since most rock stars may not be those things. But Will is. A talented guitarist, a damn catchy songwriter, and a performer that has woo’ed his share of audiences, Dailey possesses an energy that many strive for but few attain. His new record, “National Throat” has received some pretty impressive accolades and credits thus far, as well it should. I was lucky enough to give a few listens through…
Will has a way of blending things remarkably well. There are certainly some reggae elements to a lot of his music (particularly in the bouncing guitar upstrokes), but it’s far beyond your average Bob Marley tune. There is a gravity to his arrangements that pulls in aspects of rock n’ roll and pop mentality. This is highlighted in the very first track, “Sunken Ship”. Memorable and catchy as hell you will be singing along after the first listen. The song lays out a sea of sound around the line “captain of a sunken ship”, emanating out around Dailey’s vocal. There is a strain to his voice, but it’s gorgeous in its tone and power.
“Don’t Take Your Eyes Off Me” is where we get a bit of grit. The bluesy scream of the electric guitar over a slow tapped beat to start the song off. The song moves along slow, but it has such a feel and an attitude to it.
The follow up track, in contrast, is led off by a frailed banjo and the songwriter singing a bit softer and more cautiously. Will Dailey’s falsetto is impeccable. The way he is able to drift from his normal range, all the way up, and back again is an amazing feat. The song builds, keeps it interesting and is very successful in doing so.
There is a diversity in the decisions he has made here. Sure, the songs have rock elements, some blues, some of that reggae, but it’s not just one of those things. I think that’s why Will has such a mass appeal to an audience. He is always challenging himself and stretching the boundaries of his music…and damn is he good at it. What I like so much about Will as a musician is he is many things, but isn’t just one thing. You can’t simply nail down that “his voice sounds like so and so” or his songs “are just like those x band tunes”. An evolving and growing musician who isn’t slowing down, and I am just happy to watch him cruising.
National Throat is a hell of a record from a hell of a musician. Another to add to your playlist.