Danny Kiranos, better known as Amigo The Devil, is a storyteller through and through, as shown in his album Yours Until The War Is Over.

Kiranos’ lyrics indicate just how much he really takes storytelling to another level as he sings “and the only death that’s ever really worthless / is a life without a story to tell” in “It’s All Gone.”  Bluntly, he says that what he is accomplishing in this album is raw storytelling.

“Once Upon a Time in Texaco pt.1” is an upbeat number, the instrumentation of the banjo and the way that Kiranos passionately evokes every lyric has a quality that is hard to find in music today. This song’s ups and downs keep listeners on their toes to hear where the song will take them.

“Barrel and Staghorn” is almost an instrumental number. The only lyrics throughout the song are from a phone-call staggered in between the gentle strumming and various instruments. The call is someone on the phone with an emergency dispatcher. You can hardly understand the muffled speaking, allowing the story to be interpreted in countless ways. This song has the power to make the listener get lost in the song without realizing that there are no true lyrics and appreciate the unknowingness of where the story is headed.

“Agnes” is a lullaby-coded love song with eerie echoing coursing through the background. The ending is a perfect lead-up to the next track on the album “Cannibal Within,” it builds from a creepy note sequence into the dramatic start of the eighth track. “Cannibal Within” sounds like it could be a track in a musical with Kiranos’ character voice and overall dramatic sound.

Kiranos’ voice is full of life in “One Day at a Time” with lyrics like “falling apart one day at a time” Kiranos sings joyfully through the pain. The song starts with a cork bottle popping open, leading into a number that sounds like a celebration but is covered with a truly upsetting meaning.

The final track on the album, “Closer,” is a story told with an aching voice about the meaning of life and the “human cycle” being portrayed in a painful way. This song is one of the hardest ways to look at life and humankind, a stunning narrative.

The artwork for Yours Until The War Is Over is very well matched with the album, being an interpretive art piece. This album can be interpreted however the listeners find it in themselves with Amigo The Devil taking everyone along on his journey.