Music News Nashville
November 22, 2006
Zachary Hunter - In Your Dreams
by Chuck Dauphin
Virginia native Zachary Hunter has been influenced by a wide variety of artists from Vince Gill to Steve Wariner to Toy Caldwell. So with that said, it would make sense that the singer is musically diverse. His debut disc proves that fact with a variety of Country Music that is sure to please. Writing each song by himself, the singer experiments with many different moods and styles, and succeeds more often than not. For those who like the wide open sound of Country, there’s the kick-off track, “Place In The Heart,” which features some nice fiddle work from session pro Stuart Duncan, or the driving feel of “Travellin’ Bone.”
Hunter takes a nostalgic approach to “Fire It Up,” about a young man’s coming of age behind the wheel. There’s a murky feel to “Muddy River,” which conjures up memories of John Anderson’s “Mississippi Moon,” and he isn’t afraid to tackle a subject not talked about much anymore, like forbidden love, such as “As Long As We Believe.” The brightest spots here come about when he harmonizes with some equally talented singers such as Amy Hartman (on the 70s-ish “In The Moonlight), Alyssa Bonagura (who delivers some incredible vocal work on “Those Aren’t Tears (In My Eyes), and Alyssa’s mom, the great Kathie Baillie of Baillie & The Boys (on the tear-jerker “Until Our Dying Day”)……Hunter takes a big step with his first release, and I think it’s true enough of one to give him a few more down the line!