A great songwriter once opined, "In the end, the love you take is equal to the love you make." Carey Ott's love for pop music runneth over on the kaleidoscopic "Lucid Dreams." Ott, late of Chicago alternative rockers Torben Floor, has waxed an engaging debut disc akin to the way artists used to make records in an era before marketing research executives overtook A & R (think back to classic Lennon/McCartney, Matthew Sweet, Ray Davies, Elvis Costello, Big Star).

Ott assumes a varied persona in just about every track yet he still manages to forge a cohesive statement that indeed lives up to the album title. "Am I Just The One," which you may recognize from two episodes of "Grey's Anatomy" represents Ott at his most romantic as his crackling falsetto nimbly navigates through doo-wop back-up harmonies and slide licks worthy of George and Eric in their respective heyday (ditto the slide passages on "You Got Love").

The mid-tempo rocker "Shelf Life" emerges as a sterling example of Ott's tendency for ornate arrangements that are deceptively simple in execution, employing unadorned pedal tone bass lines, an occasional car-radio effect on the voice, cheap keyboard pads, and a scattering of syrupy Beach Boys references that are far more reverential than retro.

The dramatic breaks and m7 chords which punctuate the dirge "Virginia" display the artist's penchant for the blues and classic soul (aspiring songwriters should take note, this effective modus operandi worked wonders for Mick & Keith, Elton & Bernie, and Steely Dan, among others).

Ott handles most of the guitar chores, expertly affording rhythmic and harmonic counterpoint to his catchy melodies. With the tracks clocking in at no longer than four minutes, "Lucid Dreams" is devoid of filler or noodling. Ott lays down fine finger-picking in "Kickingstones" and the in the title track while taking liberty with the tempo, which is another rarity in the Pro-Tools world we live in.

It's no surprise that the early, digital release of this collection entered in the top five downloads along with The Raconteurs, Sufjan Stevens, Dashboard Confessional, and Johnny Cash. You can judge the worth of an artist by the company he keeps!

© Tom Semioli