Our Dreams Are Premonitions - The Other Side EP

Our Dreams Are Premonitions

The Other Side EP
self-released; 2014

3.3 out of 5

By Ted Rogen

Our Dreams Are Premonitions is a project created by Scott Kalmey that saw its first release The Other Side EP earlier this year. The EP contains four songs that have a lot in common with late 90’s boy bands. Whether Scott Kalmey wants to admit it or not these songs have an overt commercial appeal that will resonate most with a younger audience. The songs have all the key elements that made ‘N Sync and Backstreet Boys popular. His vocals are sensual and smooth while the choruses are grandiose. Even the basic structure of the songs owes a tip of the hat to the pioneers of this style. Truth be told if you aren’t into this type of music there is nothing here that will make you turn. However, if you still yearn for commercial pop that was prevalent in the mid ‘90s then you just found the album.

The first track “The Other Side (Hey Hey)” starts with little warning. Kalmey and his band jump into a verse that revolves around an acoustic guitar, synths, a steady beat and vocals that has traces of R&B and John Mayer. When the chorus pops it gives way to that late ‘90s-mid 2000’s vibe that sounds like it could be the music that they played at beginning of “The O.C.” 

“Maybe If You Were The Last Person On Earth” drops it low and smooth. The vocals are tender and on the verge of sensual as he sings, “Hide until you break then take another chance on me / This could be / The love you’ve always dreamt you would see.” The song is dramatic, nostalgic and also serves up some saxophone. In my opinion a saxophone raises the level of the song by a couple of notches. 

The closing song “Windows” is no doubt a top 40 commercial hit. It has all the elements needed to reach a large demographic of people. Kalmey knows how to write a hook that will get stuck in your head whether you want it to be or not. 

Kalmey writes pop music that sounds as inspirational as a Disney movie. Sometimes it feels a bit cheesy but so did ‘N Sync and people loved that. Let’s get real, hipsters won’t be into this music but I guarantee that girl in college who had a crush on Justin Timberlake will. 

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