| Track |
Production/Notes |
Review Highlights |
| 1. Gonna Love You |
Prod. by Ryan Hadlock |
A dynamic, declarative opener that sets a high-energy tone. Co-written with David Daniel Devaul, it likely features a surging melody and showcases the band’s immediate chemistry. |
| 2. If She’s Lonely |
Prod. by Gabe Rabben |
The first single, co-written with Zachary Scott Kline, captures the band’s raw live energy. This track is a perfect example of their playful lyrical style layered over a driving rhythm, exploring longing and unfulfilled connection. |
| 3. Holding Too Tight |
Prod. by Gabe Rabben |
Co-written with Matthew Paul Douglas, John Cory Kelley, and Bryan David Nichols, this song promises a deep dive into the anxiety of a relationship under pressure, benefiting from the polished sound of The Dog House Studio. |
| 4. Crashing |
Prod. by Ryan Hadlock |
Co-written with Bart Brandon Butler, this track sounds like a prime example of their cinematic rock influence, likely building to an expansive, dramatic climax, recorded at Bear Creek Studio. |
| 5. Can’t Say No Tonight |
Prod. by John Hollier |
Co-written with hitmaker Troy Verges, this second single features a beautiful balance of emotional depth with a building melodic refrain. Hollier describes it as one of the band’s first successful attempts at a 3-part harmony, culminating in a solo section that really gets moving. A testament to their effortless synergy. |
| 6. Rival |
Prod. by Gabe Rabben |
A track co-written by all four band members (Kline, Cox, Akers), suggesting a group effort that captures their collective heartland grit and live power, likely featuring a powerful group-anthem feel. |
| 7. Saturday Night Polly |
Prod. by Matt Ross-Spang |
The album’s only solo Hollier write, recorded at Southern Grooves in Memphis. The title suggests a focused character portrait, leaning into the Southern soul elements of their sound under Ross-Spang’s guidance. |
| 8. Never See Me Again |
Prod. by Ryan Hadlock |
Co-written with David Daniel Devaul, the title hints at a definitive, perhaps heartbreaking narrative. Expect the soaring, dramatic range established by the Bear Creek Studio sessions to elevate this emotional closer. |
| 9. Somewhere Down the Road |
Prod. by Gabe Rabben |
Co-written with Ross Ellis and Caitlyn Elizabeth Smith, this track explores themes of travel and destiny. Given its title, it fits perfectly within the band’s “thousands of van miles” experience, resonating with a sense of hopeful uncertainty. |
| 10. Rainmaker |
Prod. by Ryan Hadlock |
The powerful title track, co-written with Caitlyn Elizabeth Smith and Kevin Smith. This song acts as the thematic centerpiece, channeling the deep Louisiana roots and the desperation inherent in seeking change or salvation—a metaphor for their journey. |
| 11. Lonesome Highway Waltz |
Prod. by Matt Ross-Spang |
Co-written with Henry Maclyn Conlon and recorded in Memphis, this suggests a tempo shift. A “waltz” on a lonesome highway is a beautiful contradiction, promising a reflective, mournful, yet graceful moment on the record. |
| 12. Hollow Heart |
Prod. by Ryan Hadlock |
The final track, co-written with David Daniel Devaul and Jack Hummel, provides the emotional landing point for the album. Expect a powerful yet sensitive conclusion, exploring the themes of emptiness and the search for fulfillment. |
The Rêverie: The Heart of the Sound
While John Hollier’s heartfelt songwriting is the core, The Rêverie—comprised of the exceptional talents of Jones (sax), Kline (lead guitar), Akers (bass), and Cox (drums)—provides the distinct texture that sets this album apart. The integration of Teddy Thibedoux Jones’s saxophone is particularly key, injecting a soul and a Springsteen-esque drive into the heartland rock framework. Zachary Scott Kline’s lead guitar work, particularly noted in the success of the co-written “If She’s Lonely,” proves his ability to deliver sharp, compelling solos that propel the narrative forward.
With the success of their singles already building anticipation, and a planned Spring 2026 tour across the US and Europe, Rainmaker is poised to be the pivotal release for John Hollier & The Rêverie. This album showcases a band that has successfully translated their road-tested energy onto tape, delivering a collection of deeply personal and universally resonant tales of love and heartache—all filtered through a sound that is authentically their own.
