Nick Granato offers up 13 tunes on his 2007 CD, "Outside the Lines". The record opens with "In This Human Race", and Granato launches into his political and social commentary wrapped in southern-tinged rock pop music. His voice is a compelling blend with a timbre that reminds us of Bob Seger and Steve Perry. Granato has a broad vocal range, but has a rough tenor rasp that cuts through the music well. In Track 2, "Color Outside the Lines", Granato sings 'the only time they look your way is when you mess up their precious design, and no one cares until you color outside the lines'. It's an ode to individuality and the subtle killing of difference from children to adults. Track 4, "Down the Road to Compromise", gives us a bit of the Boss' signature style as Granato poignantly sings the finest tune on the record, 'just step over fallen angels who have been left out in the cold, don't be worry about the sick the oppressed, the hurt, the old, and don't be fooled by children who stare with hungry eyes, compassion's not a virtue for the wise down the road of compromise'. Towards the end of the CD we hear again of conformity battles in "Purple Conspiracy". Granato is approached by those who can't take the color purple. .and urge him to play it safe with colors like 'blue, maybe green, you gotta blend in you know what i mean, try a color that's not so bold'. The final track, "Who I Am", is one of the better tunes that hit on identity crisis and confusion we all have from time to time. The beautiful song is a compelling way to end the musical artwork Granato has here. He winds through the observations of a tortured but loving soul who refuses, albeit not without struggle, to conform. Nick sings, 'i'm not the first and i won't be the last, to make my way and not turn back, on this journey that few can understand, down this long and winding road to who i am'. Well done complete musical rock pop work that undoubtedly, and appropriately, is performed live in purple.