Sleepless Dreamer (2018)

If Pearl Charles’ debut EP was a love letter to the golden era of folk and garage rock, Sleepless Dreamer is where she truly stretches her legs and steps into a sound that’s even warmer, fuller, and more intoxicating. The ‘60s and ‘70s influences are still woven into every note, but this time, they shimmer with even more confidence. There’s a breezy, sun-drenched glow to the entire album—Fleetwood Mac harmonies, pedal steel twang, and the kind of effortlessly cool songwriting that makes you want to hop in a convertible and hit the Pacific Coast Highway with the volume cranked.

From the very first notes, Sleepless Dreamer makes one thing clear: this is a poppier, more expansive Pearl Charles. All the Boys is a pure shot of Rumours-era Fleetwood Mac, shimmering with infectious warmth. The guitars jangle, the melodies wrap around you like an old favorite sweater, and once that solo hits, you just know you’re experiencing something special. It’s the kind of song that makes you roll the windows down and let the wind do the talking. Also, an Aly & AJ collab needs to happen immediately—this one practically begs for it.

Pearl’s voice on Beginner’s Luck is rich, smoky, and dripping with ease. The track floats effortlessly on a bed of vintage ‘70s instrumentation, with a feel-good groove and an absolutely necessary dose of pedal steel guitar. It’s impossible not to hear echoes of All Things Must Pass in the way this song moves, that same warm, sprawling lushness George Harrison perfected. If he were still around, he’d surely be nodding along in approval.

The title track, Sleepless Dreamer, brings a modern touch into the mix, with glistening guitar work and deep, rich synths that fill every corner of the soundscape. It’s dreamy, warm, and all-consuming—the kind of song that makes you stop what you’re doing and just feel. Every fiber of your being seems to relax into it, sinking into the perfect sunset.

Long Hair is pure country-folk-pop perfection. Simple, direct, and endlessly charming. Following this, Pearl Charles leans into country storytelling on Only In America, delivering a politically uplifting anthem wrapped in gorgeous instrumentation. Instead of dwelling on division, Only in America focuses on unity, the idea that there’s still something that binds us together. In times like these, a little hope and harmony go a long way.

Fleetwood Mac fans, this next one’s for you. From the very first groove on Ghost, it’s impossible not to hear shades of Stevie Nicks in the way this track moves. It’s confident, endlessly replayable, and has that signature Charles ability to make the past feel like the present. If Stevie ever heard this, she’d be toe-tapping right alongside us.

The second that bassline kicks in on Night Tides, you know this track is going to be something special. Funk and disco slither into the mix here, proving that Charles isn’t just coasting on retro nostalgia—she’s bending it to her will. Vocally, this is a beast of a song. She makes it sound effortless, but if you really listen, the depth and subtlety of her voice are remarkable.

The folk and country dials get turned up to 11 on the delicate Blue Eyed Angel. There’s a sweetness to it that feels almost like The Carpenters—soft, melancholy, and utterly beautiful. Behind Closed Doors is cool, breezy, and undeniably smooth, this one has The Eagles written all over it. Maybe even a little Blue Jean Committee energy (for my Documentary Now! fans)—effortlessly laid-back but secretly impossible to get out of your head. It’s the kind of song you’ll find yourself coming back to again and again, just for the way it makes you feel.

A perfect closer. Phases pulls together every thread on this record and weaves them into a grand finale. It builds and builds, the urgency in Pearl’s voice rising with the lush instrumentation until it all comes to a head. It’s sprawling, intense, and absolutely stunning—a reminder that this album isn’t just about capturing a vibe. It’s about feeling something real.

With Sleepless Dreamer, Pearl Charles doesn’t just refine the vintage textures of her debut EP—she expands them. The pop hooks are sharper, the production is richer, and the overall mood is even more intoxicating. Fleetwood Mac, George Harrison, The Eagles—the comparisons are all warranted, but Charles isn’t just mimicking the past. She’s sculpting it into something fresh, something that feels just as at home in the golden age of ‘70s rock as it does right now. This is the kind of record that seeps into your bloodstream, the kind that makes nostalgia feel brand new again. And the best part? It feels like she’s only just getting started.

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Highlight Songs:

• All The Boys

• Sleepless Dreamer

• Night Tides

• Long Hair

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Own it, Stream it, Forget about it?

Absolute must own. This record is comforting, nostalgic and refreshing all at the same time, demanding to be replayed for the decades to come.