Lee’s Dream

My son Tyler gave me this one. When Tyler puts something in front of you, you pay attention.

Lee’s Dream is Austin country. Kevin Dehan’s second record, made with the kind of Sun Records patience that doesn’t get made much anymore. Glen Campbell, John D. Loudermilk. That lineage. It doesn’t announce itself.

I had it on while I was doing something else, and that’s not a complaint. Music that settles in without demanding your attention and still holds up when you finally give it some is harder to make than it sounds. “Easy Money” is the one that stuck. Sarcastic and upbeat at the same time, which is a Guy Clark kind of trick and Dehan pulls it off.

The rest follows suit. Titles like “Dead Dillo” and “Bad Luck” that sound darker than they play. Something quietly optimistic running through the whole thing even when the subject matter isn’t.

Tyler’s got good taste.