Angie Aparo doesn't look like he plays the kind of music he does. Although you shouldn't judge an album by its appearance, Aparo, an Atlanta-based singer/songwriter, still looks more like a nu-metal guitarist than a thoughtful rocker.

And I was wrong yet again when I slid Aparo's "For Stars and Moon" into my disc player.

The opening track, "Hard Woman," has lyrics that are written with a stubborn but appealing female in mind. The vocal style and simple acoustic guitars remind me a lot of Cat Stevens, yet not quite as intense. Unfortunately, the catchy blues harmonica that appears in this song seldom finds its way into the rest of the tracks.

The lyrics are emotionally driven without being whiny or depressing. Even the song "Suicide," written about the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, is more of a assault on the attackers than a sad or passive memorial.

Aparo's song "Cry," which was featured on his album "The American," was made popular by contemporary country singer Faith Hill on her chart-topping release by the same name. On fliers, you'll see Aparo advertised as an opening act for matchbox twenty, and of course, as the mind behind "Cry." Yet, Aparo surpasses both matchbox twenty and Hill in originality and talent, although that's not necessarily the world's toughest task.

The album ends on a note that leaves you wanting more with the hidden track "Springtime." The keyboards in this song, provided by multi-talented Aparo, take the ambiance of the music to an entirely different level.

His vocals, especially on the chorus, are absolutely fantastic, coupled with distorted string bends between words.

Aparo's music is a perfect example of independence as he dabbles in everything from pop to blues while finding himself a niche in an amped-up, folk-rock style, which represents both his southern heritage and his cosmopolitan success.

Suggested listening: Live, tonight at Creole Gallery, 1218 Turner St. in Lansing