Album Review: Sally Seltmann - Hey Daydreamer

Hey Daydreamer is Seltmann's fourth solo album, and it's a really pretty record. But prettiness is nothing without some kind of weight, some other dynamic that elicits an emotional response, and that's conspicuously missing here. With songs like Dear Mr Heartless and I Will Not Wear Your Wedding Ring, you expect at least a bit of toughness. But none is forthcoming. Even when Seltmann sings, “I will not wear your wedding ring... go back where you came from”, it's unconvincing and never really connects. …Wedding Ring also showcases wind instruments that sound a bit like a toned down Joanna Newsom, and this album definitely could have used some of that artist's weirdness or innovation.
Needle In The Hay is one of the few highlights, elevated by some jaunty piano and restrained use of Seltmann's breathy head voice, which often grates across the rest of the album. It's a very unfortunate (hopefully) coincidence that it shares a name with a much better Elliott Smith song though, because it's hard not to think of how much you'd rather be listening to that. Catch Of The Day also shows a bit more grit in the percussion and a more convincing vocal, but that's kind of… it. Seltmann has proven over the last decade that she's a talented musician, but this album leaves you begging for some kind of strong, interesting melody, a catchy hook or something else to hold on to.