From Toxic Love to Self Discovery Dave Lebental’s Stylus Tells the Whole Story

Dave Lebental’s ten-song album Stylus, featuring his incredible band Karma Train, feels alive from the very first track. This is the kind of record where you can hear the band locked in together, pushing each song forward with real energy and intention. It blends bluesy rock and roll, classic songwriting, and honest storytelling into a record about growth, creativity, and figuring yourself out the hard way.

The record kicks off with the funky blues-rock jam “Addition By Subtraction,” a song about realizing a relationship is toxic and deciding to finally walk away. Haven’t we all been there? Sometimes growth means leaving the person who is holding you back behind, and Dave captures that moment perfectly and with clarity. He sings, “You’ll never change your act, I’m off and running and I’m never coming back,” before an amazing guitar solo takes off. It really feels like Dave is running through the sound of the music itself. The guitar tone here is especially cool. Swelling organs and bluesy piano fill out the sound while the band keeps the groove moving. When he sings “Losing you is addition by subtraction,” the message hits with confidence. It’s a bluesy rock n’ roll opener packed with personality, making it a great introduction to the record and Dave’s music.

“Changing The Way I Feel” pulled me in right away with its retro sound. This one leans classic rock but still feels fresh, with an intricate vocal melody and excellent piano playing. The chord progression stands out against simpler melodies and really takes the listener somewhere. The song keeps shifting and transforming in a way that stays exciting without ever feeling messy. It feels like a musical journey. Lyrically it’s about being an artist and pushing through writer’s block until inspiration finally hits. There’s something fitting about that because Dave Lebental clearly found inspiration here. This track feels like the sound of creativity waking up.

Just the title alone made me curious about “Hopium.” This is a tender ballad with piano and vocals leading the way. Dave sings higher here, showing another side of his voice that works beautifully with the softer arrangement. Around the forty second mark the band comes in and suddenly the song opens up into something that feels like an indie rock daydream. The songwriting reminded me of Brian Wilson and some of the deeper melodic moments of The Beach Boys. It’s gentle but powerful at the same time.

Kicking off with a powerful drum fill, “I Can Always Count On You” immediately brings a darker edge. The chord progression gives the song a slightly uneasy feeling and the organ sounds like a haunted ride at the local carnival. This is another song about a toxic relationship, this time focused on the worst kind of friend. The kind of person whose only consistency is letting you down. One of my favorite lines on the whole record is “So out of touch with reality, you’ve got a poisonous personality, I can always count on you to let me down.” The hook is incredibly catchy and you might find yourself singing along, almost like you’re releasing some of that negative energy. It makes you wonder if the person this song is about has heard it yet.

I’m an older, fully independent artist operating mostly underground, touring the West Coast with my band Karma Train and supported by a passionate, word-of-mouth fanbase, I’m not chasing fads or seeking stardom. I create out of my love of great rock songs. My catalog resonates with all ages, but especially with older audiences who feel disengaged with the current sound of rock, rap, hip-hop, and kiddy pop music.” – Dave Lebental

The record closes with “You Figure It Out,” which has a relaxed reggae feel with guitars playing staccato upstrokes. The vocal tone is tender but confident, like someone looking back with a little more wisdom than they had before. This song reminded me of some of the songwriting spirit of The Police, The Beatles and Paul Simon. The bass line is one of my favorite parts here. It sits higher in the mix than on the other tracks and balances the production beautifully. Lyrically, it’s a coming-of-age song about surviving your twenties and learning as you go. Making decisions without much life experience, trying different things, struggling sometimes, and growing anyway. When Dave sings “Little by little you figure it out,” it feels honest and earned.