Writing sad songs is what Lyman Ellerman claims to do best and I don’t typically disagree with his own assessment, except in the case of his latest album. Closer to Home, rather, is full of sentiment, camaraderie, love, faith, and hope. This album will fill your heart full of exactly what we need at a time like this: the things that matter to you most. It’s about shared experiences and realizing that pure joy comes from the simple things in life. Sometimes these are the things we often take for granted. Lyman has lived enough life to understand this and he has the lyrical prowess to put those feelings into words. This album is a tribute to those special moments and relationships that balance our life. It should be a reminder that those we surround ourselves with can have the ability to fill us up with contentment when we need it most. Not to be taken too lightly, Ellerman, in his usual fashion does tackle some difficult topics as well. Humanity and humility are always the common denominators.