A little smoother and more pop oriented than his debut Haunted, Dan Kibler's 1998 follow-up Capsule on Big Deal Records is a polished, soft country/folk/rock affair. The singer/songwriter delivers confident performances, along with his backing musicians Ronny Crawford on drums, bassist Michael Giblin, and keyboard player Matt Thomas. The material is strong and steady, reliable to the extreme. Kibler keeps his emotions in check, leaving a bit of distance between himself and listeners hoping for a gut-wrenching country wind-up or bluesy break down. Things almost get a little steamy during the subtle "What'll It Be," but Capsule is dominated by middle-of-the-road cuts like "Try," "To Be Loved," and the somewhat Hootie-ish "You Still Make Me Smile." Well crafted, organic, but perhaps too safe, Capsule is a professional, intelligent recording that could have used a little spirit.
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