Album Review: Dream Your Way Out Of This One, Niall Connolly

Brooklyn-based Corkonian Niall Connolly obviously has a serious work ethic, but the highly prolific singer-songwriter is barely known in his homeland. Dream Your Way Out Of This One is his eighth studio album in 16 years, and will hopefully be the one to change that sorry state of affairs.

Despite his relatively low profile, he’s obviously well respected. Ably backed by a talented crew of experienced NY session musicians (Dennis Cronin, Chris Foley, Len Monachello and Brandon Wilde), the album also features guest performances by Deni Bonet, Javier Mas and Glen Hansard. While many of the songs deal with his experiences as an immigrant in a politically turbulent time, the album opens with a blast from the Irish past.

Written for the 1916 centenary celebrations, ‘A Song For James Connolly’ is a gentle ballad told from the point of view of the freedom fighter’s wife and daughter: “Well my father fought for justice/ For our country to be free.”Connolly is a folk artist at heart, as evidenced by low key standout ‘Central Station’, but he also occasionally rocks out, most especially on the drum-heavy title track. First cut ‘Artificial Lake’, meanwhile, is a call to find joy in a world full of fakery (“I know, I know, it’s an artificial lake/But the swans are real and the trees look great”).

All told, it’s a well-crafted collection of thought-provoking indie-folk from an artist who deserves a much wider audience.

Out now.

7/10