Lou Carlozo sounds like: Tom Petty getting in a head-on rush-hour crash with Keith Richards and Paul McCartney in John Lennon’s carjacked psychedelic Rolls Royce. They decide to settle their differences not in court, but a month-long songwriting pull in Bruce Springsteen's backyard, with Roger McGuinn, Chrissie Hynde and R.E.M. as judge and jury, Howlin’ Wolf as the bailiff and Robbie Robertson as the caterer. Recording the event for posterity: Arthur Lee and Amy Rigby.

Here’s how the new Lou Carlozo album “Stick Figure Soul” came about: Day after day, new CDs hit Lou’s desk at the Chicago Tribune with the incessant tap-tap-tap of rain on vinyl rooftop. This is what happens when you become one of the nation’s most respected rock music editors and journalists, with a standing column in Christian Century magazine and a heap of headline deadlines under your belt.

And patiently, Lou waited for something, anything (apologies to Todd Rundgren) that might elicit goosebumps and make him buy all the pronouncements of “SOUNDS LIKE A POST-MODERN BEATLES!” or “THE POP-ROCK RECORD THAT WILL MAKE YOU BELIEVE AGAIN!”

Heavy sigh. After enduring enough muddled songwriting, shoegazing and post-modern-woe-is-me-the-mall-is-closed to fill three cutout bins, Carlozo did the only thing he could. He fought back … a 12-string Rickenbacker guitar serving as sword and shield.

Holed up in his pseudo-Swiss chalet recording digs, aided and abetted by Chicago’s Mike Hagler (Wilco, Billy Bragg) he swore not to emerge until he’d yielded the record he heard in his head—the track-after-track afterburner he’d waited patiently to receive, but never did. Others joined in his smitten pursuit, including Minty Fresh Records chieftain Jim Powers (Cardigans, Veruca Salt).

After a year of getting organized—no anti-depressants were harmed in the making of this record—Lou emerged with “Stick Figure Soul” … a self-effacing, bracing, challenging pop juggernaut.

Though completed over 2006 and 2007, "Stick Figure Soul" has been eight years in the making, on and off—babies, other bands and writing a few books will do that to you. What's it sound like? From the mockabilly of “Elvis In the Sky” (a hunka-hunka burnin’ lob at false idols in high places) to the rolling thunder-rumble of the album-closing ballad “Always,” it’s a record of contrasts and delights. No two tracks sound alike, but the songs ponder spiritual yearning in its many forms, from the dull ache of dead-end pursuits to the wrestling that accompanies an exhausted awakening. Or, as in the case of jazzy “I’m Still Sleeping,” the simple celebration of a few extra Zs.

“If I’ve succeeded, the music in every case serves the song,” Carlozo notes. “But my hope is that between the instruments, melody and my lead vocals, you’ll hear cohesion and consistency, too.”

Described as Chicago’s "producer provocateur" by WXRT-FM deejay and "Local Anesthetic" host Richard Milne, Lou Carlozo is a man of many pop cultural hats. By day, he's an entertainment editor and DVD columnist for the Chicago Tribune—but long before he became a journalist, he was an award-winning songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and professional musician, perfecting the art of wearing a tall mullet haircut and pink plaid jacket in his 1980s New Jersey bar band.

To this day, Carlozo maintains a state-of-the-art recording studio and has dozens of regional productions to his credit. He has also worked alongside the likes of producer/engineers Jim "Jiff" Hinger (Boyz 2 Men), Joe "The Butcher" Nicolo (The Fugees) and Hagler.

One track on “Stick Figure Soul”—"Living In Fame"—landed on a "Sandinista" Clash tribute featuring the Smithereens, Amy Rigby and Camper van Beethoven; "Elvis In the Sky" has been selected for the in-development indie movie "Eden Court" starring Thomas Lennon ("Reno 911"). Carlozo specializes in 12-string guitar, bass, percussion, organ and nearly anything with strings.

Contact Lou at lou@loucarlozo.com or via the Bat Phone: 773-294-7006.