Peter Lucibelli is an enormously gifted singer-songwriter. “Pieces of Me,” his 2006 album, is a magisterial work that encompasses the range of human experience from the frustrations and joys of love, the wonder of parenthood, the reality of death, and the ephemeral fragility of people and places that are dear to us. “Fly,” the first soundtrack, is an upbeat instrumental piece, in major chords, which starts off smooth and easy on the ears and then moves quickly into a haunting profundity. I like it a lot. My major interest, however, is the human voice and I prefer songs with lyrics. Moving to Track 2, “Rearview Mirror,” after 20 seconds of intro the listener is treated to that most remarkable instrument of all, Lucibelli’s voice. As you continue through the album you will inevitably be impressed by his range of emotion. His phrasing is always lucid and his voice has a timbre and a range that can move from deep husky yearning to highly polished elegance and every stop in between. The words that immediately came to mind was “authenticity”. His voice always reflects the emotions of his songs and his songs treat many topics. Track 3, “It Don’t Matter” is a post break-up song which is plaintive and melancholy. The lyrics capture the emotions of denial with the nuances of deeply felt emotion underneath. Lucibelli’s songs for his son and his daughter are masterpieces. I thought of the poems that the Irish poet, Yeats, wrote for his son and daughter when I heard the excitement, joy, longing, and fulfillment of fatherhood in his words. Lucibelli’s song about his own father depicts some of his father’s gorgeous and plangent violin playing. It is very moving. Three songs that have already started to haunt me are “State Line,” “Leaving Soon” and “Old Stories by the Seaside.” The emotional range and depth of these songs are astonishing. They are highly personal and yet they deal with the universal emotions that all of us will reflect upon if we have the least philosophical bone in our bodies. These songs are profound yet accessible. I don’t much like making comparisons, but I would put Lucibelli as his own distinguished non-derivitive singer/songwriter/poet. His voice has little notes of Springsteen, Tom Waits, Jim Morrison, and Brian Eno and all fans of those voices should listen to Lucibelli whose voice is absolutely original. He is no copy of anyone. I would hesitate to put Lucibelli into any one niche. His voice and his music should appeal to the following: rockers, folk music lovers, people who love operatic voices, indie rockers, pop, progressive, and sundry other categories. He offers enough to keep almost all listeners happy. Take this journey! You will be moved and grateful.