Think about the best part of being in love. Now think about the heartache when it’s over. Lisa Germano’s stunning debut album will make you feel all of that again, and send you away with a feeling of hope for the future. Never have I had an album run me through such a wide range of emotions.

Lisa has put a lot of herself into this recording. With the exception of one bass and three drum tracks, she played, wrote and arranged everything you hear, with a co-writer credit for Greg Edward on “Hangin’ with a Deadman.” This makes for a very personal statement, one which makes you feel that you know her, that you could call her up and tell her all of your secrets. When she sings “You can’t save me” in the song “Cry Baby,” you wish that you could, you want to try. In “The Other One,” she sings “Hold me/sacred/touch me/hold me…That’s better.” And it is better. On certain tracks, the feeling is so intimate, it’s easy to imagine she’s in the room, singing just for you.

The music is harder to describe. Predominantly violin, mandolin and other acoustic instruments, it blends elements of folk, classical, bluegrass and rock ‘n’ roll in a constantly evolving mix, which is at one moment down to earth, the next, soaring and majestic. The instrumental tracks are not just filler, or a mere showcase for musical prowess. They carry as much emotional impact as the vocal selections, as they lead the listener through each section of the record. The album, a strong early contender for album of the year, is available by mail order from Major Bill Records, P.O. Box 30087, Indianapolis, IN 46230.