With a few exceptions (Andy Griggs CD, reviewed last month is one), most of the socko country debuts these days are coming from the distaff side of country. Men seemingly continuing to be forced to make hat-wearing, cookie-cutter, garbage with which to inundate top 40 country radio. But here again is a marvelous exception. "Shane Minor's" debut is modern enough to be hit-laden, without being overproduced, or too poppy, or schlocky, or not really country. A modern country debut as powerful as this from a man, should give everyone hope for the future of country male vocalists.

Mr. Minor's current hit, "Slave To The Habit," is a perky and fun enough song, but I wasn't sure if it showed an artist who could pass muster. I am very sure now! All 11 tunes on this album are hit-worthy. MY favorites are: "A Girl Like That," not only for its kicky beat, but for its awesome message of not falling head over heels immediately, but noticing someone you COULD feel that way about. . .; "Change Your Mind," which if given too overdramatic a delivery could have been your usual country-pop manure, but in Mr. minor's emotional, but duly restrained take, this song is down right heartbreaking; "Too Much" is an excellently written song (there are killer songwriters in evidence all over the place on this disc, Toby Keith, Kostas etc.), which talks of someone leaving that you gave TOO MUCH to, making their leaving that much more assaulting.

However, the song that blew me away is what matters most to me on this disc. . . But first an aside: Up until this song about to be mentioned, I really had a lot of faith and loved this album, but was ready to only give it a 4 1/2. Because while everything here is SO well-crafted, there's not a huge amount of stylistic variety here, and also to make this album so viable in today's radio marketplace, some people still might be offended at the fact this album IS poppy enough for top 40 country, although the feelings and songs are definitely of the country spirit (making this the " good" kind of poppy) even though one song is written by (gasp!) pop ballad king Richard Marx. Yet one song took all those " minor" reservations away.

The track "How Many Times" is a realistic and dark look at the trillion-nerve hitting fact that just when one thinks you can't be dramatically or bone-crushingly hurt again, you can. Shane's is a bleak message here but made more hopeful through his wonderful voice intoning " How many times. . .can a heart break." And yes, (shudder) this amazing song that rocketed its rating for this reviewer to the big 5 is written by Michael Bolton. (???)

This is an odd brew of stuff to make a country album but there's certainly nothing minor about this stunning debut. Whatever works works. More power to you Shane.