Caleb Travers & Big City Lights - Blue Weathered Dreams - Review

Review by Cliff Snyder of the Indianapolis Songwriters Cafe - Monday, September 1st 2008 

Caleb Travers is a storyteller who happens to write a damn good song. His album, Blue Weathered Dreams is an outstanding collection of hurt, hope and wanting. Sonically there's enough texture on this album you'll listen several times before it all begins to sink in. The slide guitar on tracks like Brokedown Palaces, my personal favorite, is so effective in conjuring up the mood this band wants to pull you though but when the arrangement strips down to just Caleb & his guitar on Got No Feelin there's just as much atmosphere and depth to the sound (which is no small feat!)

Occasionally some tracks remind me of a less poppy version of Matthew Sweet's mid 90's album, 100% Fun as well as another mid-90's release, Deluxe, from Better Than Ezra. I went back to listen to some of those tracks and decided I enjoy Caleb’s voice more than Matthew Sweet & prefer the arrangements and production over Deluxe! 

Blue Weathered Dreams is an apt title for this album that seems to have a worn in feel. These don't feel like new songs that beg you to give them a shot they feel like old friends on the first listen. As with anything I cover on the Indianapolis Songwriters Cafe the songwriting here is first & foremost. In this case I could write all day about the lyrical prowess of Travers, the dark biblical references in Brokedown Palaces, "The scene changed and I was Cain, and I killed Abel in a rage." The longing that pours through Sunday Morning, "I pass through this house like your ghost inside my mind." There's not a weak song on this album.

The good news is that you can hear Caleb live, this week! He's stopping at the Indy Hostel on Thursday, September 4th. Come out and support him so he can fill up his gas tank and move on down the road with those great songs.

Caleb Travers
The Indy Hostel - Thursday, September 4th @ 7pm - $8 
4903 Winthrop Ave
Indianapolis, IN 46205
http://www.indyhostel.us 

Visit Caleb online to listen -  http://www.myspace.com/calebtravers