In 2008, Dylan Connor, a Latin teacher and musician from Berkeley, CA, was at Burning Man Festival wandering the streets with a guitar and singing songs for anyone who needed the gift of music. Breakaway Republic is the result of this adventure and it’s full of uplifting melodies and gentle harmonies. Opening with “Breakaway and Burn” Connor’s soft vocal and gentle chords bring to mind John Mayer. The next song “Stunning Insights” is a pure pop treat with humming minor chord changes similar to McCartney or maybe Evan Dando. “Blood Like Fire” is a Johnny Cash styled blues track that has lots of soul here. Every song here is pretty good, and some of my favorites here “Don’t Let Me Wash Away” and the rocking “Pave Me.” It isn’t too flashy, and the smart lyrical approach avoids most songwriter cliches about relationships. Worth picking up with some great melodies and it’s all very accessible to even the most jaded music fans.
