RICK CARUSO
Keep The Dream Alive (RU Red E?)
Reviewed by Shaun Dale

---

Rick Caruso has been a soldier, a professional football player (USFL and CFL) and a carpenter. Today he's a building contractor in Nashville. All along, though, he's been writing, playing and singing songs that he's occasionally pulled together and released in collections, the latest being Keep The Dream Alive.

He performs in a straightforward pop vein, citing influences that include Harry Chapin, Jim Croce and Cat Stevens. His rich baritone reflects the Stevens influence, and he has a touch for a wistful love song that yields favorable comparison to Croce and Chapin, but while his influences are clearly discernable, he writes from a personal space that provides a meaningful level of originality to his music.

Being neither a jingo nor a Christian myself, I admit that my attention begins to wander when Caruso strays into political and religious themes, but he's clearly writing true to his personal interests and vision, and can't really be faulted for that. When he does hit the sweet spot for my attention, with songs like "Your Lullaby" and "Maybe I'll Leave" I'm impressed by both the songs and the performance. When he's good, he's great, and getting to the great stuff makes punching the fast forward button a couple times well worth the effort.

Track List:

Your Lullaby * Lonely Fool * Keep The Dream Alive * Heaven Is You * I Wish She Looked At Me For Love * Let HIM In * So I'll Just Tell You Goodbye * Maybe I'll Leave * Singing To The Crowds * A Good Man

[Pick this up at www.cdstreet.com.]

© 2004 - Shaun Dale