Album Notes

"Shame" starts out with the title track, a Texas Dance Hall free for all, that includes a musical break that exhibits Monroe's sense of humor and musical reach - it's a carnival like break that smiles - then back to the straight forward blues based country-rock.

Monroe's voice is somewhere between Kenny Chesney & Black Crows - very poppy, yet soulful with country like phrasing and an occasional blues flavored fun. This is country-rock/pop, and every song shines with hummable hooks, melodies, and interesting lyrics.

Major labels ought to be creaming - Monroe's image is like icing on the cake, not that I care, but 13 year old girls probably will and damn, isn't funny how that demographic keeps buying records. That is not to take away from the obvious musical substance that exists in Monroe's records. Clearly, the first weaves it's way through AC ballads, country ballad charmers, and blues rock energies.

In track 6, "One Become Two" (an interesting switch describing the reality of relationship breakups), Monroe writes, no bells ringing, no angels singing when I look at you, my heart it beats right on time when one becomes two' - with a wonderfully emotional vocal finale where Monroe hits a high falsetto so loud and up front that it is musical fulfillment when the note, the D above high C, is nailed (mp3'd here).

Rick exhibits another clue to his humor in track 12, "Best Damn Woman"'money can buy' - as he recants a portrait of the surgeon visiting LA woman, 'never a wrinkle in her face or clothes, if anything's real only her surgeon knows, best damn woman only money can buy you love her, you need her, but she's never ever been satisfied'. Cool tracks, accomplished musicians, and great songs - EAR BUZZ