The word “craftsman” comes to mind when I think of Wilson’s work on this disc. Not one aspect of this recording sounds like it was phoned in or rushed. Wilson is an artist who understands how to bring his songs to life, fully realized, through the hard work of matching creativity with meticulous attention to detail.

“Coffeehouse 101” starts it all off with a sly, catchy alt-pop rocker, featuring everything you want to hear on a tune like this. The driving guitars, powerful vocals, and grinding bass and drums provide the meat and potatoes that you would expect, but the sneaky chord changes, spacey breaks, sardonic lyrics, and funky production touches provide unexpected audio candy. “She Won’t Stop,” “Too Tired,” and “Nobody’s Home” follow a similar alt-pop rock template with equally pleasing results. In particular, “She Won’t Stop” packs a serious lyrical and musical wallop with a highly insightful take on the dangers of human ambition. “Marielle” and “Shade of Eden” stand out as the most effective softer offerings. Both feature beautiful melodies and hook-laden chord changes, which serve to bring the reflective lyrics to full life. Kaleidoscope’s End had me trying to decide if it reminded me of something I heard in the ‘70s or just last week on alt. radio. “Van Gogh’s Ear” provides a fascinating juxtaposition between a confident, almost arrogant sounding musical background and a highly vulnerable lyric (“I feel like Van Gogh’s ear, a useless appendage, stashed behind the mirror”). I love the choice of chords used as a backdrop for the guitar solo, which is itself a masterpiece of blistering aggression.

My only beef is a subtle point regarding the lyrics. While the CD’s heady, sometimes poetic approach works very well, the overall effect is somewhat impersonal. I would have liked to hear a tune or two that took a more personal, emotionally accessible approach in the lyrics. 
The musicianship and vocals throughout this recording are stellar, highlighted by the fretless bass work on a few tunes, the consistently exciting guitar solos, and the powerful lead vocal on “Shade of Eden.” Wilson’s hard work make for a very compelling recording. Turn off your cell phone and take a listen.