"The Armpit of Desire" explores internal and external realities with desire as the backdrop and central reference for the human condition. Siders can lure you in with a conversational, rapid-fire delivery, but then subdue you with a confident and reflective, if not suggestive, voice. He is quick to turn a phrase, yet control is maintained throughout, but just barely, and you get a sense that there's always a degree of risk-an idea or emotion taken too far-but he pulls it off at every turn, almost to your surprise.

Siders reveals his versatility in some of the standouts in this collection,...