More than anything else, Egan is a master of walking you down a road of lyrics that takes you places you don't expect. He's like Mason Lankford in that regard, but less of a wizard and more of a spirit album. Smack dab in the middle of the album comes "Moment of Grace", and at first I thought it was a maudlin, saccharine thing that didn't dig towards any depth.

"Sometimes you run just to get away?" What kind of stupid line is that? Why the hell else would you run, John? But as you really feel the slow journey towards a much-needed place of peace you start to identify with what's going on in these words. Egan's telling you that you may not really no why you're running, and ends on the hopeful circular line of "Sometimes you run just to blaze a trail."

Amulet is full of moments like that. It's got some downsides, true. I didn't care for his love songs much because they tried for sweet in the same mode of darker compositions. "Peaceful Mind" is also not a great choice for a closer being really nothing more than a rehash of the earlier sentiments and styles of "Grace" and "Grave." These are just minor hiccups in a spectacular piece of work, though. You're going to want to get this one.

Amulet is out on July 1. John Egan has a release show at 9:30 p.m. Saturday at McGonigel's Mucky Duck, 2425 Norfolk.

Jef has a new story, a tale of headless strippers and The Rolling Stones, available now in Broken Mirrors, Fractured Minds. You can also connect with him on Facebook.

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