Dreamland

the take

The album that changed it all for me. I think I have something in common with COIN in the sense that this album came at a very formative time for the both of us. I don’t think it’s an exaggeration to say this album has shaped who I am today. Don’t let its bright exterior fool you — the album’s main themes are longing and uncertainty. Wrapped up in Chase Lawrence’s striking vocals intermingled with ethereal synths and unforgettable riffs, Dreamland takes the listener on a journey through identity and self-expression. This album was able to put the feeling of yearning into words I never could’ve. I think that’s why it resonates with me so much; it gave me a vehicle to take what I feel and express it outwardly. My personal favorite track, Valentine, puts it best in a line I think about often: “You ever love something so much it hurts?” Putting Lawrence’s poignant authorship aside, the (fittingly) dreamy instrumentals provide a distinctly soft platform to make these ideas palatable. Something else I love about the album as a whole are the transitions. The lingering drone from Youuu to Valentine makes the shift in lyrical content feel less cutting and more like a memory. The four-tone lead-in from Lately III into Babe Ruth paints the tracks as two sides of the same “coin” (see what I did there?). This album is littered with many other fun production techniques and rich melodies, making every listen feel unique as you pick out details that have been hiding in plain sight the whole time. Overall, I think I could spend hours breaking down each track and what it means to me. This is one of those things where words don’t do it justice. These songs have taken me through some tough times; listening to them feels like talking to an old friend. To end, I’ll put my thoughts into one sentence: I love this album so much it hurts!