After achieving prominence in the dance music world during the late '90s through a series of high-profile remixes and his work with Deep Dish, Richard Morel decided to step out from behind the mixing desk to offer his own tunes. But Morel's solo debut, Queen of the Highway, reflected more than just his background in electronica: it gave him a chance to draw off a lifetime of artistic experiences. Growing up outside Boston, Morel was turned on to literary titans like Tennessee Williams, Hemingway, and Fitzgerald by his mother -- while soaking up musical influence from his grand...