This was my first Randy Newman song album and it is still one of my favourites. Although many, if not all of Randy Newman's songs are song from the point of view of the singer, the people in Randy's songs weren't him. I can imagine people suggesting that Randy is racist due to something like Rednecks, when in fact he's presenting someone else's feelings, albeit in a pitying way. However, with Land of Dreams, Randy has added a few more autobiographical songs, most notably the opening paid, Dixie Flyer and New Orlean's Wins the War. Both of these track his early move from LA to New Orleans and the former blends into the latter, while the musical style changes with the change in location. The first as a ballad that features a gorgeous arpeggio piano opening and a slightly gospel feel to the chorus. New Orlean's Wins the War is more of a ragtime style and is one of the Randy Newman songs I'd like to be able to play, but just can't seem to work out on the piano.
As well as the more traditional songs, there are a few bizarre ones, the first of these is Four Eyes which recounts the trauma of being a kid with glasses. Although Randy claims this isn't actually about him, he does have a slight eye disorder which didn't do him any favours at school and so no doubt there is a hint of his fears as a child. The ending is particularly cruel and features a chorus of children who taunt the poor kid who has been dumped, lunch box and all, at school for the first time. Next up are two more traditional love songs, although Falling in Love isn't particularly romantic musically, it is an ultra catchy tune with a slightly repetitive chorus. Something Special is very soppy indeed, but despite all that, Randy is a master tunesmith and writes some fantastic love songs, if only there was someone around to hear them (Feels Like Home from his musical Faust is a classic). Bad News from Home is a sombre ballad, while Roll with the Punches features a little more of the ragtime element, perhaps the dark side to New Orlean's Wins the War.
Masterman & Baby J and Red Bandana are two songs that hardly any Randy Newman fan likes, the latter is often cited as the only song that they don't like. The best explanation, at least for Masterman, is that "even Randy doing rapping is still rapping." Of course, it's complete piss take rapping and being someone who can't stand rapping, the great thing about this song is is highlights the rampant egomania of most rappers to his own ironic end. Red Bandana starts with a very strange repeating motif, but has a very funky tune once it gets going and makes a pretty decent comment on people who follow others blindly. The same could be said for Follow the Flag. However, this is a much subtler song and while fairly short, has an utterly gorgeous piano part, notably in the opening.
It's the Money That Matters is more of a straight rock song and makes for a more subtle version of Randy's previous slating of capitalism in It's the Money that I love from Born Again. I Want You To Hurt Like I Do is the sort of song that will make you sob like a baby if you listen to it too often and follows the fortunes of a father about to leave is family; the fact that the accompaniment is heart breaking in itself doesn't help avoid weeping uncontrollably. Had the lyrics been more of a love song this is yet another Newman song that could easily have become a real smash hit (and possibly sung by someone else....). Oh well, kind of expect Randy to go by unnoticed these days. He, like his fans, is rather resigned to the fact - a great shame really. Some have suggested that Land of Dreams relies too much on synths and some of the songs are a little overproduced and while I agree to an extent, there are very few instances where they are very instrusive and don't ever get intrusive to the point of ruining the song. I must confess that the best songs are the ones which are just well written and aren't cluttered with synths. Newman fans should have it unconditionally and while it's not perhaps a completely archetypal Newman album contains several fantastic songs that really don't deserve the lack of popularity they currently have.
Rating ~ 
Total Time ~ 40:16