When singer-songwriter Jacob Lampman and his cohort take the stage and you spot the upright bass, flute, mandolin, electric and acoustic guitars, you may ask yourself, “What kind of music am I about to hear?” The instrumentation conjures up bluegrass or folk, but the sounds that emanate from this quartet take so many twists and turns that you cannot pigeonhole the ensemble in any one genre. 

With this first Ego Death release (the official album title is Jacob Lampman’s Ego Death), Lampman and co. cook up a 10-course meal of exotic spices. Every song stirs in new ingredients. The result is a melting pot of musical flavors rooted in jazz, blues, indie and classic rock. 

Listening to this release, my mind conjured comparisons both modern (M. Ward, The Shins and Wilco) and classic (David Bowie, Todd Rundgren and Jackson Browne). The ensemble of skillfully trained musicians readily transition from folk to jazz to indie to Americana to prog to ’70s pop. They’ve got a bit of a Laurel Canyon vibe with a hint of yacht rock, plus a pinch of Steely Dan and a touch of the bands playing CBGB’s in its heyday for good measure.

The album kicks off with “Wish Me Away!” its hi-hat snare groove overtaken by a bowed bass. Once the flute and guitar join you’ve now entered Lampman territory. The flute sets a somber tone before being rescued by intertwined acoustic guitars. “I know people that can only sing the blues, thousand words to always paint the same old tunes,” sings Lampman, in a cotton-candy smooth voice that whisks you away from the darkness. 

Lampman’s lyrics are rich with metaphor. The accomplished guitarist also shines as a poet. “Anyone can plant a seed, but can you feed it what it needs?” he sings in “Sunshine.”

Lampman dons his coattails and crooner’s hat for “What’ll I Do?” Envision a spotlight chasing our singer in a smoky cocktail lounge, or perhaps the dream sequence from a David Lynch film. Much of what I hear on this release would be fitting for a soundtrack: dreamy, cinematic, musical landscapes.

“Braun’s Song” is the one live track — recorded at Octopus in Cedar Falls and dedicated to Braun the dog. It’s a jazzy, walking-your -pet-down-the-Boulevard-of-Broken -Dreams kind of track. Jake Giddens provides a very Bill Frisell-esque guitar accompaniment. The backdrop of bar patrons provides proper ambience.

“WASTED” is my personal favorite from this release. It’s the track that stayed stuck in my brain for days after seeing Ego Death live. “The times I listen. The times that I wasted. Those times were once there.” Life is fleeting, value what you’ve got: friends, a guitar, a beloved dog.

The band settles in on the back porch for “Reservoir,” sharing life stories over sun tea or beer — tales of the one that got away as the sun sets over the lake. Lampman finally delivers something in the bluegrass or country vein with album-closer “Sophie’s Song.” The track also sports a harmonica solo, which is a nice touch. 

Going back to our 10-course meal metaphor: instead of a table inundated with foods, Jacob Lampman’s Ego Death is a bit like an Everlasting Gobstopper. It’s an album, and an artist, that keeps you wondering what flavor is going to come next. 

This article was originally published in Little Village’s May 2026 issue.