Midnight Story is an interesting debut album by pianist Brandon Sturiale. Some of the pieces are solo piano (electronic, I think), and some are piano with synth washes for color; there is one vocal track. A self-taught pianist, Sturiale has also composed music for stage productions, children, and full orchestra. His ultimate goal is to learn to play every instrument in the modern orchestra, at least fundamentally. My only real objection to this album is the flat quality of the sound of an electronic piano when used as a solo instrument. I’m sure this is mostly a matter of economics, and the quality of the music makes it forgivable. The CD opens with “Morning Sun,” a joyful piece that fairly dances out of the CD player. “Snow Queen” is a favorite, with a dark, moody flow and a haunting melody. “Home” is also darkly beautiful, and is fully orchestrated - there are obviously some mixed emotions about “Home”! This one is also a favorite. The title track has a big sound with heavy bass and a dramatic melody line - possibly the best song on the CD. The vocal piece, “Just a Simple Song” is cute and catchy, but seems a bit out of place. Most of the tracks have more of a classical feel, and this song is very pop-ish, so it kind of spoils the mood for me. Midnight Story is a very promising first effort, and I look forward to seeing what the future holds for this bright new artist. The CD is available from brandonsturiale.com, cdbaby.com, and mp3.com.