Michael Dean Damron - A Perfect Day for a Funeral (2005)

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 Damron'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, A Perfect Day for a Funeral is a pretty good example.~John D. Luerssen