In a year that, so far, has been pretty light on new music, Ashley Monroe’s solo debut Like a Rose remains one of the bright spots.
Monroe, one third of the Pistol Annies, has a lot of the wit and flair that have made her friend and band mate Miranda Lambert a big star. This album has received a ton of acclaim and performed modestly well on the charts, but I don’t know if Monroe will hit the mainstream (or if she even wants to).
Today’s track is a gentle romp from a record that alternates between sweetly sad and sweetly funny. I’m looking forward to whatever Monroe comes up with next.
Starin’ them snakes in the eye
Daddy died drunk, left us all in a lurch
Hell, I did what I did to get by
I did what I did to get by
A third grade education won’t bring you no luck
When you’re looking for a way to get paid
Turned 14 and stole a pickup truck
Couldn’t make it on minimum wage
Couldn’t make it on minimum wage
Well I almost got caught in Tulsa town
I had me one foot in the grave
Ah they’re gonna die trying to track me down
But they’ll never catch Monroe Suede
No they’ll never catch Monroe Suede
Well you can’t stay long when you’re living on the run
And the high sheriff’s lookin’ for you
Never shot nobody with a loaded gun
But I found me a lover or two
Well I almost got caught in Tulsa town
I had me one foot in the grave
Ah they’re gonna die trying to track me down
But they’ll never catch Monroe Suede
No they’ll never catch Monroe Suede
Momma still plays piano in the same ol’ church
Helpin’ them sinners get saved
Daddy died drunk, left us all in a lurch
And they call me Monroe Suede
Well I almost got caught in Tulsa town
I had me one foot in the grave
Ah they’re gonna die trying to track me down
But they’ll never catch Monroe Suede
No they’ll never catch Monroe Suede
They’ll never catch Monroe Suede
Meet Me In Montauk 
So it’s not enough for you to follow lambert and the Pistol Annies? Now you have to follow the lesser known Annies?
This is exactly the type of twangy country for which I have little patience.