Big Love Car Wash - Daydream (2025)

This is a whimsical & serious self-produced debut album recorded in Austin, TX. The music is rooted in bluegrass, with generous dips into traditional music, folk, jazz, Celtic, & rock in an interesting jambalaya of styles. The opening cut, “Dream Journal,” is a nice intro. Sound-wise, the vocals fall somewhere between the Avett Brothers & Mumford & Sons. Not quite your Clancy Brothers or Chieftains type of saloon romp, but an upbeat, enthusiastic & optimistic showcase.

Though the vocals aren’t particularly strong, they do have their range, & pleasantries in tone. The second tune sounds a bit more traditional in manner. “Janna (She’s Still at Sea)” is a story song that possesses some heavy-duty bass strings & fiddle sawing. The playing is always exemplary by these gentlemen.

There are a generous 16 reveries during this enjoyable Daydream, with a balanced performance between the well-composed compositions. To be “different,” a band this tight & creative needs to mix the recipe beyond just bluegrass by doing exactly what they are doing. Fortunately, the Austin-based musicians have an Irishman (Sol Chase) amongst them to keep the authenticity genuine.

The only minor drawback is that the voices don’t have the distinctive sound of a Shane McGowan, Dave Cousins, or Christy Moore in spirit. No matter, for me, the music is what’s gripping & the band is up to snuff. There isn’t a weak moment in this set. A little more comedic is “Dante,” but the way the band performs the song, it doesn’t wander off into novelty land. The tune is foot stomping & hand clapping good. The acoustic guitar work is fingerpicking exceptional & the fiddle sawing smokes. It has its drama, & is simply a delightful display of the Big Love Car Wash performance skill.

More seriously, “Subtleties” & “I Won’t Write Murder Ballads” are both lyrically well-articulated. Both lean a little more into the stylization of the fanciful bands like Spirit of the West, Oyster Band, Horslips (“The Man Who Built America”) & Lindisfarne (“Sleepless Nights”). The vocalist on these tunes reminds me of the late Andy Hull, who possessed a similar approach to vocals.

Two finales are “Memorial” & “21st Century Telegraph,” & both stick a big toe into the Strawbs’ majestic musical grave new world. The most impressive, well-arranged songs on the album. While not everything will strike a chord, the majority of the songs are all spirited, well-conceived pieces by superb musicians.