Dan Masterson’s new album When Reality Calls rises up to the challenge of being one of the better piano driven pop rock masterworks. Masterson’s command of the ivories allows him to build inspiring melodies. His vocal ability allows him to croon beautifully, widely over the musical landscape he creates below. His songwriting caliber allows him to craft emotive, motion-filled pieces that makes the listener feel those sweeping passages, that like classical or opera, make the listener feel what is going on within his romantic dramas.
Masterson spanks forward his opening track “You Wanna Know” with a knobby piano melody that also functions as a platform for his glowing, gliding vocal. He finesses his lyrics with a gentle force that, combined with his keyboard work, carries the listener along in his warm tuft of sound. There is also a rhythmic drive beneath his voice and piano that adds another layer of snap, crackle, and pop to this motivational tune.
“Don’t Burn Yourself Out” has a bit more rocking edge, thanks to a compact concoction of crackling guitar, bass, and drums beneath Masterson’s voice and piano. His support players know how to mesh rock with appealing pop coolness. Their little nuggets of notes provide the river Masterson and his piano raft over, his vocal a beautiful largeness that makes one feel the sonic structure of this wide, unfurling number. Despite its size, Masterson makes it all move with an incredible control over all of these moving parts.
“Fall In Love Again” has a revolving backbeat, a tremendous mule kick forward motion. This leaves a lot of quick openings for Masterson to fill in with voice and piano. He makes the most of this groove to punctuate with a lot of smooth vocal parts and punchy, rhythmic piano stabs. This makes it one of those songs the listener just wants to roll with, feel where the sprinting groove takes him.
“Less Traveled Road” benefits greatly from Masterson’s bursts of emotional statements. He projects strong feelings with each line, singing out with tremendous joy and passion. Punctuated by anthem like drum, bass, and guitar work, Masterson rides a high wire of emotional intensity and driving dynamics. Moving around his huge sweeps of voice and piano, this singer-songwriter-piano player makes a strong impression in each verse and chorus.
Title track “When Reality Calls” is a beauty of a down tempo glider. Masterson’s smooth, flowing vocal stands out like a huge flag of shiny talent. His sustains are signs from heaven that angels do exist and the whole of his vocal work is something that anyone in the music industry would take note of. That anyone in a relationship could rejoice in Masterson’s lyrical development of something personal we can all relate to is his first plus. His second is that he renders it with such a glorious good voice and sublimely touching work with his ivories.
“Fight For it” finds the maestro playing more flinty piano lines over a more fast footed beat. Masterson’s rivulet of racing notes are wrapped inside a womb of rocking guitars, bass, and drums. It all adds up to an irresistible pull, a pop rock song that can accompany one cruising down the highway or enjoying a vigorous session at the gym. It is more catchy than sweeping, but Masterson wins at this game too.
An “Interlude” intrigues with its twitchy guitar noise beside a light tough of piano. Eerie yet engaging, it creates a scene and sets a spacey mood. “Pendulum” lets Masterson rock out, belting his verses and chorus with dynamic energy and feeling as at home with this approach as he is with his ballads. It’s impossible not to get into this piece because the punchy groove and the snappy guitars keep the toes tapping as Masterson does his front man swagger at the microphone.
“Unsteady” is an engaging mid-tempo rocker. Here, Masterson croons in an easeful style that lets him milk a lot of emotion out of his vocal line. His smooth vocal glide coats this peppy piece with pure gold. The listener just wants to bottle his voice and sustains. Moving his voice thusly over bouncy rhythmic support creates a clever contrast that highlights each.
Masterson gets deep and soulful on “Too Much Time Alone.” It’s a treat on so many levels to hear him emoting at the microphone. There’s a lot of feeling coming through on this one. Masterson, slowly crooning and sustaining his lyrical message with a casual drawl, makes his listener feel what’s going on in his words. He also taps out true emotion on his piano, playing notes that carry their own melancholy spirit. A lead guitar solo emerges and it becomes yet another dramatic moment in an already well developed piece.
Close out track “Take It Twice” is another successful blend of smooth vocals, classy piano work, and a steadiness of purpose. Masterson’s voice has that large ability to move freely at will, and go in any direction he chooses. Here, he lets his rangy vocal ride high, far, and wide, pulling a lot of feeling out of his words and politely serving them up to his listener.
Produced by Dave Brophy and Alec Gaston at Revolution Sound Studio in Charlestown, Massachusetts and engineered by Andy Pinkham, mixed by Pat DiCenso, and mastered by Andy Mitran, When Reality Calls plays out like one fine, smooth Cadillac ride. Support players Jamie Howell, Matthew Silva, Chelsea Blink, and Sophia Wennstedt make important contributions to these songs.
Masterson has done exceptionally well on this CD. When Reality Calls will be finding a home on local radio shows on local music fans’ stereo speakers. Let’s hope Masterson gets an opportunity to bring his songs to the masses. Huge numbers of people could fall in love with the music of this hugely talented young singer-songwriter-piano player.
