James Deely is an artist from New Jersey who has spent the last few decades on the west coast. The Valiants were a popular Jersey Shore band in the 1980s and it was great to see him start releasing music on a regular basis again in the 2010s.
This album has some of the best songs of his career. Tracks like "Beneath These Dreams", "A Harder Road", "Nashville's Finest" and "The Last Ride" evoke memories of the 80s while seeming modern as well. It's a combination that is found on all of his recent releases. Thankfully, he remembered to include some sax. He may have left Jersey, but Jersey never left him :)
This would be his last album with Paul Ford of the Valiants who passed away far too soon. It also includes performances by the late Kevin Kavanaugh of Southside Johnny & the Asbury Jukes fame.
The Makin Waves Song of the Week is "In the Congo," a live version of which will be released May 23 on "The Shroud of Touring: Live in 1985" on CD only on JEM Records.
