His lyrical phrases seem to burrow into your cerebral cortex while his musicality leaves you humming his melodic lines. Jason Shannon is a bona fide storyteller, with vivid songs that sound old and new simultaneously. His mix of folk, blues, country, pop and rock that he calls “American Soul” music had its start in his previous band, Dear Machine, but really blossomed when he assumed full control. It’s come to fruition with this first disc under his own name that will grab you with its diversity and his natural form of expression.

Born in Paris, Texas, and raised in Lake Charles, La., Shannon took 100 songs he has written, whittled them down to 30 and put the 12 that seemed right for this project together in a self-titled package. He shot the cover photo on the beach last July at Park Point, appearing as Charlie Chaplin with a top hat and umbrella, atop a 12-foot ladder peering into the heart of Lake Superior.

All of the dozen tracks on “Jason Shannon” have a distinct character in their text and musical components, and the disc covers a lot of ground with passion and propulsive energy. Best of all, Shannon demonstrates that he’s got soul in his throat.