As a sociology professor and musician, Mark Zane’s songs observe the world around him more sharply than most.

His first full album of original material, “American Hunger,” gathers 12 songs digging into diverse subjects, such as domestic violence in “See Spot Run” and homelessness in “Man Under the Bridge.”

“It’s about the guys you see in Syracuse when you get off the highway,” Zane said.

But the tone of “American Hunger” isn’t all downbeat; it leads off with the optimistic “Have Hope.”

Though the majority of Zane’s music looks outward, select songs, such as “Ruby,” feed off inspiration from within. The song looks back at a woman Zane liked named Ruby. But like other autobiographical songs, “Ruby” isn’t entirely based in reality.

Zane’s acoustic bent contrasts his harder-rocking days in high school, when he played in rock and metal bands.

“I wrote a little bit of stuff back then, but not the kind I’d want to play today,” said Zane, who has played guitar since he was 10.

After dabbling in fiction writing as a young adult, Zane felt he would be more apt at acoustic songwriting. He prefers the accessibility of the acoustic guitar, but “American Hunger” isn’t all Zane’s words and bare strings.

The album also features backing vocalists Joanne Perry and Bianca Cummings, harmonica player Ben Chernoff and classical guitarist Bill Chernoff, who also co-produced the album with Zane last summer. Zane also plays percussion, bass and electric guitar on several tracks.

“I dust off the electric when I want to put a solo down,” he said. “It’s fun to let my hair down and jam.”

David Wilcox

253-5311 ext. 245

david.wilcox@lee.net