Nowadays, it’s becoming harder and harder to find a musician that deserves to be called a “song writer”. With hooks becoming more and more necessary for success, the true artistry behind music is being sacrificed to those who are masters of alliteration and clever metaphors. Gone are the days of meaningful lyrics draped with light but powerful instruments. But every now and again, we find someone who does deserve this title, someone who puts together an album that is thought out, planned and meticulously carved into a piece worthy of great praise. This brings us to Michael Zapruder’s album, “Dragon Chinese Cocktail Horoscope.”

“Happy New Year” leads the track in with light piano and mildly electronic drums that introduce us to the world to Michael Zapruder. This song brings us right in with very catchy instrumentals coupled with sentimental lyrics, that along with Michael’s stream of consciousness type lyrics bring us full-force into this album.

Whether it be the Arcade Fire-esque “Ads For Feelings”, the beautiful piano in “Can’t We Bring You Home” which propels straight to an older time in the basement of a pub somewhere in downtown New York, as Michael softly croons the title of the track with light strings howling in the background. Whether it be the acoustic tinges of “Harbor Saints”, which just makes the listener feel good. It’s all to apparent that “Dragon Chinese Cocktail Horoscope” is a CD that makes you feel as if you are the only person that understands it, yet you want all of your loved ones to hear it and love it just as much as you.

The thing that makes this album stand out amongst it’s contemporaries, is that it feels as though every single note, every single lyric is thought out and meticulously crafted into one beautiful composition of music. This album could be  life’s work that is how well put together it is. It feels as though it has taken years to get it out to people, because every second with it is appreciated and lovingly taken care of.

In conclusion, “Dragon Chinese Cocktail Horoscope” is a very diverse and well approached and implemented piece of work. It basically defines all that is right with music right now, and should serve as a precedent to any other potential artist out there as how to execute a great record. This album deserves all the praise in the world, it has no flaws as each moment is enjoyed and cherished. This album needs to be heard by everyone you know, for music’s sake.