After Dreams Come True

Album Review

Bill Mumy, prior to his music career, first made a name for himself in Hollywood as an actor. His television credits include The Twilight Zone, Lost in Space, and Babylon 5. As a musician, Mumy was one-half of the '80s rock duo Barnes & Barnes ("Fish Heads" was their one hit), released three solo albums, and has scored music for myriad films and television shows. After Dreams Come True sees Mumy on his fourth solo set, and it's a thoughtful and sensitive collection of light, acoustic folk fare. Mumy's vocal performance is similar to the stylings of Tom Petty, Elliott Smith, and Lou Reed, but his talk-singing is delivered in more of a restrained whisper. A couple of lively numbers do round out this congenial disc. "Walking That Road," which features an interesting and intentionally overprocessed lead vocal, moves with purpose, while the instrumental "Dave Guard's Up" is accented by a buoyant banjo line that could have been lifted directly from the porch of a house in America's heartland. Elsewhere, a meaty electric solo marks the title track, and marks one of the few plugged-in moments on the disc. After Dreams Come True also takes a romantic turn on "Too Good to Be Mine," an endearing rumination on how love can come when it's least expected and how one can feel undeserving and unsure of it. The soothing acoustic music and gentle vocal delivery on After Dreams Come True, however, almost make it easy to miss the poetic lyrics contained on each song. Mumy, indeed, is quite a poignant storyteller with a gift for capturing the essence of life's journeys, as seen through his eyes. Audiences who enjoy knowing the lyrics may want to refer to the listing contained in the CD's liner notes. After Dreams Come True is the kind of work that is defined by the listener. For example, it can be a soothing listen to help ease one into sleep, it can serve as a wonderful example of what good lyrics are, or it can be a tool to help express emotions and experiences that are sometimes difficult to define. Whichever way you choose to listen to After Dreams Come True is up to you — but it is worth your exploration. This is an understated, soft-spoken piece of work that packs a very big punch.