Alan Caruso – Caruso – Is Like So… (2022)
We all need a little comfort and companionship, but there are times when this can be hard to get. In these times, you can turn to Caruso – Is Like So…, the EP by Alan Caruso that acts like a playful, yet morose, friend. The comforting and welcoming tones of the tracks have a slightly late-night vibe that increases the intimacy and companionship they provide.
Written during the pandemic, the EP is a wonderful introduction to his country-folk sound that is just this side of quirky. Created with the aim to make listeners feel less lonely, Caruso connects with you on a friendly level. After starting to write songs in 2020, it was up in the air whether he would record and release this EP, but we are glad that he did.
The EP opens with ‘Do I Serve a Purpose?’ which offers up the first of two big questions woven into the tracks. The easy strum of the guitar has you relaxing into the melody, while the organ that fills the lower levels creates a soft cushion that catches you as you sit back. The vocals have a slight alt-country vibe to them as they take you on a journey of questioning where you fit in the world. Through the lyrical journey, you meet different characters who are all questioning if they have a purpose in the world, or if they should leave everything behind. It is a really reflective single that leaves you with a lot to think about. While you can easily spiral into an existential crisis over the song, there is a glimmer of hope that comes later in the track. This glimmer is the almost answer to the question of the track offered by Caruso.
‘Getting Clean’ has your head swaying from side to side through the opening, before the organ grabs you. There is a rather chilled vibe to the melody that carries a great encouragement which wraps around the ode to abstinence in the lyrics. While there is a celebration of being clear of drugs and alcohol in the lyrics, there is also a push to change your mindset and how you approach these vices. At times, there is a slightly preachy edge to the single, but this gives way to a more friendly push to change how you view alcohol and drugs. While really encouraging, the track is undeniably chilled and relaxed, making you want to lean back and take in the message that it has to offer.
The EP closes with ‘Michelangelo’s David’ which brings the second big question of the EP, will anyone remember you when you are gone? The single hits you with a layered melody as the guitar rides the organ for a sound that instantly captures you. The lyrics dive into the story of Michelangelo, before asking if we will have the same longevity in people’s memories after we are gone. It is a rather gloomy topic to consider, but has been wonderfully tempered with the acknowledgement of great things people have done, from Michelangelo to Beethoven and Dostoevsky. It is a rather sombre way to end the EP as it leaves you wondering what impact you have on the world. The flow of the lyrics is similar to those thoughts that hit you late at night.
Using his country-folk tone, Alan Caruso delves into late-night thoughts, serious questions and edges around an existential crisis through the tracks of Caruso – Is Like So…. The EP is packed with late-night chilled vibes that allow the messaging and questions of the tracks to really hit hard. There is a companionable feeling to his performance, making you think of a friend you can talk to late into the night with.
Find out more about Alan Caruso on his Spotify.
