I had no idea when I woke up today that I would stumble upon an eclectic and moving album that would surprise and inspire me. Jessica McLean really snuck up on me.
Jessica McLean is from the Outer Banks area and you can hear that windblown openness in the nine tracks of her debut album, “Designed to Dream.” She’s been writing since she picked up the guitar at age 13. These songs are culled from those early years to the present, but they all contain mature insights beyond her years. She’s old enough to be married now (her husband is the surf-film maker Nic McLean of “Noah’s Arc” fame), and is living the dream she was designed for, writing and playing, with a special heart for young girls struggling with societal pressures to conform.
That passion shines clearly through standout track “Beautiful,” a cry for the peace of God in the face of the world’s beauty standards. An achingly tender violin underscores McLean’s poignant lyrics. McLean has gathered a dream team of players for “Designed to Dream”; the presence of Tom Jones’ lead guitar is strong throughout, but especially luminous on “In the Light” and the solid up-tempo rocker “Run.” His textured playing contrasts nicely with McLean’s earthy vocals on the encouraging title track.
Her intense vocals pour through the slow-burning “Ocean Song,” with its old-school chord movements. This same progression shows up on the moving “All I Need,” with equally emotive effect, aided nicely by the rock solid bass line and more shimmering guitar.
A quietly acoustic rendition of “How Great Thou Art” closes the album out warmly. Jessica McLean brings intelligence and passion to the nine tracks of “Designed to Dream,” and she has every reason to dream big.
