Dave Caruso is an independent alternative-pop songwriter from Trenton, Michigan. Armed with keyboard, guitar, bass and drums, Dave has been performing for over 30 years with his band “Caruso” during the 80’s and with this more recent EP he gets to strut his solo stuff. He sounds similar to Cliff Hillis, Michael Carpenter and Mark Bacino, with sunny chiming guitar melodies that are instantly catchy and accessible. The songcraft is top notch, a perfect example is the Elvis Costello sounding title track “Elizabeth Parker”. The next gem is “I Can’t Be On Time,” a finely tuned slice of 80’s styled power pop. the bossa nova ballad “If I Died Today” and strong guitar riffs of “Letter To My Ex” round out the album. If you enjoy any of the artists above, then this is excellent addition to your music collection. I would hope Dave will continue to record and a full length is on the way soon.

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Charles Ramsey’s second album has plenty of great songs, and it’s opening title track evokes those bright melodic Burt Bacharach-Hal David hits of the 70’s, and resembles current contemporaries, Brent Cash and Adrian Whitehead. But after this great opening track, it settles into a more folk-pop mode with the acoustic guitar similar to Harry Chapin or Cat Stevens with “Things Could Be Different.” Ramsey has a rich mid-tone vocal here that wavers on the higher register at times, but the plaintive “Odelia” is a perfect example of where his vocal range belongs. Lower profile pop ballads make up the bulk of the album with “The See & Be Seen Scene” bringing to mind a Philadelphia version of Billy Joel. The only return to the Brill building pop sound is the brilliant “My Lost Days” which resembles Michael Brown (Left Banke, Stories) with a masterful hook, melody and a gorgeous key change in the chorus. The slow but steady “When Forgetfulness or Sleep Has Gone” makes best use of the full orchestra backdrop, although his vocal limitations are on full display here. If you like classical 70’s pop and folk this is a welcome addition to your album collection.

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