An even dozen tunes on this CD. Definitely retro pop/rock, with 21st century shadings. Reed plays keyboards, but his primary role is vocals. His lyrics tell stories that will touch each & every listener... in one way or another. The songs are well crafted & rendered with heartfelt emotion. Our readers who are dedicated to "out" in their listening won't find this attractive, but those who enjoy all musical styles will find this a very pleasant listen. Reed described it as "closer to albums of the 1960's” & I'd say that's a pretty apt description... shades of "Mammas & Pappas" even. What saves it from being "bubblegum" is Dickinson's clear commitment to using words & music to sway the listener! I enjoyed the experience & give it a RECOMMENDED... it will be interesting to hear what his next CD sounds like.

Is there a genre yet called personal growth? If not, there needs to be for items like Reed Dickinson’s 50 minutes of fame. The dozen songs he’s written and performed are pop with a hint of rock around the edges, with no one instrument dominating. He might feel like a piano and electric guitar crashing the back of ‘Happy New Year’, and then he might go in for the acoustic guitar, countrified sound of the end tune ‘The Same Man.’ Regardless of spirit or mood, Reed has a way about him. It’s difficult to pinpoint. Alas and obviously, he hasn’t sought to create a CD full of chart-toppers. The tone of the album seems to call: if I can please myself, I can please you, I’m happy with what I’ve done, now it’s your turn. And that’s what certainly shows. Take the opening ‘I Am Not Alone’ as a good case history. You’d think he might start with one of the upper, more high intensity songs to get this party started. No. First of all, it’s not a party, it’s an introspective appraisal of just where Reed Dickinson IS in life now. And if you define that as a party, as well you could of course, then it’s His party. You wear the party hats he picks out. ‘Deep blue sky of mine / I know that I am the one / Playing games with the sun / And watching her shine.’ Then comes the more acoustically inclined ‘Same Blood That We Bleed.’ This is a pleasant melody that has a catchy vocal base to it, much like Paul McCartney might try in the middle of a late 70s album. ‘Time for me / I just need a little time for me/ No one understands what I do all day / It would take too long to explain my way.’ Music is measured in terms of distance. How close you are to it determines just how much you can get into it, often. Reed has set himself the task of assembling an eclectic fan base – one of middle of the road people who are looking at the fork in the road and trying to decide. Forget dance music or attempting to be the latest or the greatest. Reed is looking for answers. Those he finds to touch, he might Really Really touch.

Reed Dickinson's music sounds like something you're almost familiar with but haven't heard in quite this way before. Instantly accessible and adroitly produced by Paul Caruso, Dickinson has pulled together a solid set of original numbers. "I Am Not Alone" is an unambiguous, heart-felt tribute to the environment -- a pop hymn to nature. Dickinson's vocals have that cheeky bounce of a Kenny Loggins, even a Kevin Cronin of REO Speedwagon, and musically there's a strong 70's singer-songwriter pop current running throughout the album. Dickinson is good at emoting with an innocent sincerity that's difficult for even the most cynical bastard to resist. "Happy New Year" is a positive thinking anthem scripted for the Prozac Nation. Without a doubt, the spirit of Brian Wilson is cohabiting this disc -- it's in the innocent viewpoints, the pop structures, soaring harmonies, and the literal sentiments stretched to the point of dramatic irony. There are plenty of Beatlepop colors on display as well -- nowhere more evident than on "Mesmerizing, Mystical Magic Man." There are some darker moments too. "Black Cloud Zone" is a melancholy ballad of the loneliness presaging a breakup. "The Killer Made the Cover" is a slap at sensationalized violence. And in "The Same Man," Dickinson laments the loss of innocence and getting older, and the janus-faced duality of identity (outward face vs. inner man). "I'm really more of a boy than I am a man," Dickinson sings in "Many Mysteries." True enough. Playing Games with the Sun is pop music for your inner child.

Reed Dickinson's Playing Games With The Sun a Pop/Rock Sleeper What's the old expression, "don't judge a book by its cover"? Well Playing Games with the Sun is exactly what the quote emphasizes. The sweet melodies and superb lyrics Reed Dickinson displays in this album baffled me. Each and every track is an easy listen and the CD as a whole is a fine piece of work. The subject matter ranges from car problems to love songs to political issues. He does an admirable job of mixing eclectic styles of music together. Reed Dickinson obviously has heaps of talent as a songwriter and is a very capable singer as well. A definite plus with Dickinson is his very unique style. It will draw music fans to his work because he manages to regress to the more harmonious music of the 60's. It is a fantastic change of pace from some of the over the top bands of today. Playing Games with the Sun is a wonderful surprise and is definitely worth a listen. If you are a fan of mellower rock then you will enjoy this album tremendously. It is an unbelievably easy listen and, unlike many releases, you'll never want to skip over songs. Dickinson is a talent worthy of recognition. After the 12 quality songs on Playing Games with the Sun, I am excited to hear the follow-up. If given the chance to sparkle, Reed Dickinson could be something special in the very near future.