I had the opportunity to see Matt Skinner and Amanda Brown live this last Thursday. Needless to say, I bought a cd and have been listening to it ever since. This CD is intelligent, well produced, and intriguing. If you only like songs about driving down I35, drinking beer, and musing at bluebonnets....this work is not for you. If you want to dig a little deeper and think about life and it's ups and downs along with the mysterious things we can't explain then get this now. I am considering a 400 mile trip to see these two live again. They were that good.

Loved the "western swing" tunes. Love the sound of a good dance band and being on the floor with a good partner.I am learning to like a few of the newer melodies. But, not all! This young man can write, play and sing. He is going to be a hit and I wish him good luck.

If you like your music with a a little rootsy flare there is some great music on this album for you. It seems that the last few years on the road helped Matt hone his craft and puch him into another level. This songwriting shows great maturity not to mention the high quality accompaniment makes this a great album in it's own right (Lloyd Maines, I mean come on, does it get any better). "Love and a 3 Chord Blues" keeps you swinging and "Ashes to Ashes" is just a great country song. Kudos to Mr. Skinner for staying true to the craft and compiling some great music.