Some musicians just have a certain skill set. You know, the one that could make "Mary Had A Little Lamb" entertaining enough for you to go out and buy their cover of it? As on his previous albums, guitarist Mark Lettieri's fifth solo outing Things of That Nature reminds us that he is one of those guys.

It also reminds us that despite having those serious chops—and a proclivity to rock-out—Lettieri puts way too much emphasis on musical finesse to ever be confused with a shredder. The opening "Blockheads" may fully revel in unabashed rock tones but somehow manages to feel nuanced and untethered simultaneously.

With the up-beat funk of the ensuing "Naptime," the sultry, building boil of "Seuss Pants," the r&b/jazz inflected "Bubinga" and the shimmering acoustic workout "Ojai," Lettieri injects plenty of other influences into the mix. This ability to energize and blend various styles along with Lettieri's mastery of the three "T's"— tone, touch and taste—is the album's real forte. This all may be best exemplified on the album's centerpiece, "Point Iz."

In a way, it's reminiscent of another capable "ML" initialed guitarist—