Abraham Cloud Another Successful Breakfast CD

When a singer/songwriter calls one of his songs "Let's Make Love (On the Floor of the Liquor Store)," you can safely assume that he has a wild sense of humor. Abraham Cloud definitely does, and that goofy yet rockin' number is one of the high points of Another Successful Breakfast. But on the whole, this isn't a CD that tries to hold your attention with shock value for the sake of shock value. Nor is it a CD that goes out of its way to be accessible; most of Cloud's alternative pop/rock is on the moody side, and the obscure artist manages to be moody, introspective, and quirky at the same time on tracks such as "Baby Lemonade," "The Company of Strangers," and "Cigarette Bar" (a duet with singer Esther Terry). With influences ranging from R.E.M. and Neil Young to David Bowie and Roxy Music, Cloud shows promise on this intriguing and chance-taking, if uneven, release. ~ Alex Henderson

Abraham Cloud is an urban storyteller with a unique perspective and a gift for melody. Addressing predominantly homeless and shiftless themes, Abe's stories are detailed narratives told from a first hand point of view. Although Abe claims, "Observing and not doing is my inspiration for writing," "Another Successful Breakfast" is, in fact, based on his life experiences. From the Salinas Valley of Northern California to the streets of Los Angeles - raised on the stories of Steinbeck and the music of John Lennon, Abraham Cloud has a story to tell. In many ways reminiscent of the bar room music of Tom Waits, Abe's music covers the spectrum of musical styles and is difficult to pigeon-hole into a specific category. Poignant and sincere, Abe conveys with his sense of humor firmly intact. An unconscious but effective marriage of unique stories with his own persona, Abe's personality and down-and-out humor are an integral part of every story that he tells. "When I'm writing my best, desperate characters come out but with my sense of humor," Abe explains. Often contemplative, frequently introspective and always insightful, Abe tells a story like no one else. "My goal is to tell a complete story, but not a specific one. I try to leave enough space so that anyone can write their own story into it," says Abe. The result, intensely personal stories with universal appeal, makes "Another Successful Breakfast" food for thought, not just another collection of pop recordings.