Carl Lorusso Jr. - Murder Tools (2018)

In terms of more recent musical legends, this album and indeed much about Lorusso Jr.’s sound pleasantly reminds me of Ben Caplan. The voices each have this depth and personality to them that seems inherently and authentically connected to what they sing and the ideas they present. Crooked Die in particular gave off a quality reminiscent of Caplan that really brought home the fact that a live show from Lorusso Jr., either solo acoustic or with a full band, is where these songs would really come alive. The simple Americana shuffle and the story telling, even the melodic simplicity, all of this has a very classic or vintage feel to it. Don’t let this detract from the strength of the lyrics though, as these are some of the most revealing and interesting of all.