People who know me are well aware of my addiction to music. I devour it. I love all different kinds of genres and artists and am proud to call myself open to at least trying a new artist or music genre.

I always love discovering an artist on accident. In the case of Jake Walden, it was during a YouTube session watching people attempt to cover Patty Griffin songs. In the comments of one video someone mentioned Jake Walden and out of curiosity I checked him out. I liked what I heard and after making contact via MySpace here I am reviewing his album, Alive and Screaming.

And what an album it is. Walden has a gravelly voice that delivers his gorgeous lyrics with power and passion. His piano playing is delicate and drives the majority of the songs on this album. It makes for a sweet combination, his gruff voice against the soft piano.

It was the opening track, "For Someone," that I heard first before I got my hands on the CD. It is the song that could drive an entire season of the best TV dramas. It evokes such deep emotion and it is that kind of song that I enjoy the best. The 'stop you in your tracks, speak to your soul, open your heart and take a drink' kind of song. Alive and Screaming is full of these kinds of songs — deeply emotional songs that seem to speak to things that are happening in your own life. It's this relatability that is important for an album to be truly successful, not monetarily but in the way an artist can connect with his listeners.

Jake Walden's voice is truly an instrument here. He goes from a deep gruff growl to a quick falsetto effortlessly and seamlessly. It carries these songs home track after track. There really isn't a song on this album that doesn't stand out. They're the kind of songs that you hear and feel as if they're a part of you. A soundtrack for any one's life.

Jake Walden has given us a beautiful album with Alive and Screaming. His lyrics ring true in ways that few albums do. It's a get through bad times kind of album and a celebrate the good times kind as well. I've put it on a few times already and just close my eyes and just listen. That is a rarity nowadays. When do we take the time to just listen to an album. When is the last time you bought an album you even wanted to do that with? I've been lucky enough to find a few and Alive and Screaming is definitely one of them.

I simply cannot recommend it enough.

The album is available now. Take some time to pick it up and listen.

Jake will be performing at the Hotel Cafe in Los Angeles on Friday, October 2. Bonnie Somerville will be joining him at this show so there is a good chance you can hear their AMAZING cover of "Bleeding Love" live.

For more information on Jake Walden please visit his official website and his MySpace page.