On his debut solo album,
A Perfect Day for a Funeral
,
I Can Lick Any Sonofabitch in the House
's frontman,
Michael Dean Damron
, reveals his more reflective, introspective side. Unlike the politically charged
rock
that he normally throws down with his primary band,
Damron
's intimate song cycle is pitched in the
Americana
style, and for the most part it works. He looks at love from opposite viewpoints, with
"Montana"
celebrating a relationship in its infancy, while the vitriolic title cut finds it all falling apart. Because
's heartfelt delivery lends itself to optimism (
"New Paint"
), despair (
"Blame It on the Whiskey"
), and soul-searching (
"Outlaw Song"
) alike, one hopes he'll continue his solo pursuits. Only the
blues
romp
"Miss Amphetamine"
feels out of place, but as far as melodic departures go,
is a pretty good example. ~ John D. Luerssen