Leeroy Stagger

Recorded and produced by indie-whiz kid Danny Michel, this sophomore offering from British Columbia's Leeroy Stagger is an acoustically-inclined venture that features 11 well written songs. Taking a page from the Ryan Adams' songbook — leaving his punk-roots behind to pick up an acoustic guitar and mellow out as a singer-songwriter — Stagger has been blazing his own musical trail since his Six Tales of Danger EP was released in 2002. "Stupid Love Song" is a witty take on this lyrical theme that's been mined to death. The songsmith sings with a voice that emotes both passion and pain. Stagger's songs are both born and influenced from his upbringing in rural BC. Highlights include the punchy, punk-influenced "Count Me Out," with its infectious chorus and the title cut, where this alt-country reverie describes a dreamy existence through lingering lyrics while the accompanying weepy-eyed pedal steel and a bouncy banjo keep the country ballad's rhythm. Overall, Beautiful House shows the songwriter maturing with his songs becoming tighter and more diverse in terms of both lyrical subject matter and instrumentation.