Eli Paperboy Reed is back. Recorded at the legendary Sam Phillips Recording in Memphis, TN, and produced by Matt Ross-Spang (Jason Isbell, Margo Price), ‘99 Cent Dreams’ is an exuberant and uplifting collection. Reed’s arrangements on the album are lean and muscular, filtering vintage R&B, soul, and gospel through the heart of a modern songwriter. Reed and his band were joined by drummer Ken Coomer (Wilco, Uncle Tupelo) for a series of whirlwind recording sessions. The record opens up with the infectious groove of “News You Can Use,” a freewheeling meditation on appreciating what you’ve got that sets the stage for an album all about happiness, fulfillment, and gratitude. On the soulful “Said She Would,” Reed pays tribute to a forever kind of love, while the high-octane, horn-fueled “Trying” honors the little ways lovers lift each other up, and the joyously playful “Holiday” finds reason to celebrate the ordinary. The tongue-in-cheek “Coulda Had This” selfdeprecatingly shows off for an old flame, while the slippery “Bank Robber” is delivered with a Sam Cooke wink, and the nostalgic title track channels those long-gone summer days of childhood with a wistful smile. Throughout the record, Reed’s spectacular voice is complemented by appearances from legendary Memphis vocal group The Masqueraders, who join on several tunes including the poignant album closer “Couldn’t Find A Way.”
