Andy Friedman did not do himself any favors on the cover of his third studio album. Firstly, the cover features his with unkempt hair, a flannel shirt and a guitar, looking not unlike the suspect of the week on a CBS procedural. The title Laserbeams and Dreams is strange, and set the mood for a loop heavy dance album. In fact, the album is a rather engaging collection of twangy ballads, set in warm yet sparse acoustic melodies. Its an intriguing album, with songs that span the rage from death to joy and everything in between. Friedman is married to singer-songwriter Jen Chapin, and his Father-In-Law Harry never sounds far away from the mix. He owned the guitar that Friedman plays on the album and inspired some of the lyrics. Laserbeams and Dreams walks the fine like between folk and country, picking up the best traditions of both.

“Its time for church,” he opens the album, growling in a voice similar to Rodney Crowell channeling Johnny Cash. However, on this Sunday evening, with a sky that's “Brooklyn Dodger Blue,” he'd rather stay in and have a few drinks by himself. “Motel on the Lake” borrows a hint of the gospel piano for a song filled with memories. He clever references trees that “danced like Jennifer Grey” to conjure the dual layered memories of a movie from the 80's about summer vacations from the 60's. “Pretty Great” is a lovely little half-minute musical interlude that helps segue into the more straight ahead strumming of “Nothing With My Time.” “I get a lot done when I'm thinking,” he quips easily as he sings about whiling away minutes of a lazy day. On “Old Pennsylvania” Friedman uses the traditional call and response of 12-bar blues to swing his way through a childhood memory of an old house in late October. The guitars turn crunchy on “Roll On, John Harold,” with the inclusion David Goodrich's electric guitar. A half-plucked, half-strummed acoustic that drives the tempo on this tribute to the titular Bluegrass legend. “Quiet Blues” is one of the prettier songs on the album, a gentle song about the sort of blues that can provide inspiration, but only until a cell phone or some other device drags the world back in. “May I Rest When Death Approaches” is based on a series of poems Friedman's Father-in-Law wrote before he died, and pays homage to his restless need to accomplish as much as possible. This segues back into the lazy tempo of most of the album for the reprise of “Pretty Great,” this time a gentle song about the difference between hindsight and foresight. “Schroon Lake” is another interlude, an attempt to get right a piece of spoken word poetry, similar in imagery to Robert Frost. “Going Home (Drifter's Blessing)” is an beautiful song about a father always in an out of his children's life and his dreams for their future. The album closes with the dark and moody “Down By The Willow,” playing up on the Johnny Cash elements in Friedman's music.

Andy Friedman is one of those artists who tend to fall under the radar. This is unfortunate because he is too good of an artist to be missed. He has a wonderful sounds that are equal parts Rodney Crowell, Johnny Cash and Gordon Lightfoot. The songs on Laserbeams and Dreams have a depth and a complexity that beg multiple listens. Andy Friedman is a compelling artist who's work should be near the top of any music lover's shopping list.

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