WOW and thank you to Cats in the Trash for moving forward to write/produce more in addition to these great works which are poetic and reflect every man's and every woman's reality of life. Chris Millner's guitar is SEXY, emotional, thoughtful, and simply right on! Move over Springsteen; here is a band who can match, word for word, and note for note, the American persona. Oh, and did I say that Chris Millner is an amazing guitarist as well as songwriter! I should know...

Let me get back to you on that.

This band sounds at home in a variety of musical formats. Mike Curry is a mesmerizing vocalist, and his lyrics demonstrate a sensibility not too far removed from early Springsteen, from the dreamy "Drivin'" to the sly "Artchick." A terrific, entertaining debut.

Tell ya' what, here's an instantly likable record that's full of clever and colorful word play, can't get 'em out of your head hummable melodies, and a dizzying array of song styles that captivated me from start to finish, three spins in a row. As a singer, Mike Curry's got some pipes and great presence. Tracks 1 and 3 remind me of the very best of Gregg Allman/Dicky Betts, thanks in equal parts to his (sweeter and clearer than Greg's) growl and CD co-writer Chris Millner's fluid and stinging guitar work. Track 4, the haunting and beautiful Drivin' will resonate deeply with anyone who's ever taken that final long drive away from the person who just drove away from you. Interesting time and chord changes and quirky cornerings abound here on "Cats," all anchored impressively by Curry's always compelling vocal take on each song. Ya' got some cool funk n' soul on here, some workin' man blues, groovy grooves a-plenty (like, everywhere), many splashed with a twist of pathos that evokes early Tom Waits. This is a great Sounding disc too, mixed and mastered skillfully, yet transparently. Don't miss Track 5, ArtChick, the most ambitious (and deliciously funny) song on here, in my opinion. Overall Rating: Extremely Highly Recommended. "Cats" is a great record.