TAXI's CRITIQUE: *****TAXI critiqued the album, "You Bug Me Honey," 5 STARS TAXI's Song and Demo Feedback of the song titled, "Lickity Split" Amy.....You had me already when I picked up the tape with a fresh title!!! Fun and catchy song. Toe tappin time. This is a fun party song. ***** Rated: 5 Stars TAXI If you like to line dance and two-step, this is the CD for you. MUSIC REVIEW/BIO Southern Texas vocalist Amy Martinez has made a name for herself. She's now known as Amy Ames - and she is surprising Texas with her self-produced country album titled "You Bug Me Honey." Ames grew up in Duluth, MN where she graduated from East High School and attended the University of Minnesota, Duluth. Upon graduation from UMD, she traveled to McAllen and taught elementary. She never even dreamed of singing. When her daughter, Jackie Martinez, coaxed her to go to singing lessons with her, Amy told the story of her 7th grade choir teacher who told her she couldn't sing. But her daughter persisted, and Ames agreed to try out. Now, three years later, both mother and daughter each have out a CD with 2 more coming out later this year. Recorded in McAllen, Texas with Texas Tropix Records, the Sharyland recording artist has set down what she calls an album "basically, for women." However, the number one most requested song from her CD, "Lickity Split," has been from men. "It's really dance oriented," she line danced. And it sure sounds like it. Honey two-steps through 12 tracks with fast, upbeat ditties which work well at keeping toes tapping. And the songs are original, created through the "he vs. she" misunderstandings Ames says she has experienced in her lifetime. The 2nd track, "Her Name is Sandy," she says was written quickly in crayon when her daughter related a sob story about a back stabbing friend, while "The Bug Song" was written on the way home during a long trip when her husband persisted in teasing her. Actually, it seems the whole album seems to harp upon gender-related relationship issues, taking pokes at husbands, and family and beau-stealing friends in stereotypical country-whine fashion. One thing is certain, though - Ames loves to party, as seen in tracks like "I'm Addicted to Alcohol," Swing Swinging," and "I Wanna Party," which pushes the album on an upbeat note. Musically, the album works on a commendable effort. Kudos goes to the singer for self-producing an album in which she wrote the lyrics. Some help was received from Brooks Ausborn, who not only arranged the guitar tracks, but co-wrote two of the songs. Ames has definitely discovered a vocal talent within her, but she never really lets herself go. Her album is full of emotion, but Ames seems a little nervous about letting it show. It's her lyrics that stand out. Most of the songs are very poignant and cute, with lines like "Oh, I couldn't make it right, and you know I've tried/ 'Cause there's a fine line between your heart and mine." While the song "Cutest Guy in the History of the Universe" is just repetitive, with a laundry list of famous actors' names. The album, "You Bug Me Honey!" manages to grab you with many hooks and does echo a fun sound reminiscent of any honky-tonk dive. For all bugging purposes, the album is sweet and cute. "The album is a surprise - I'm trying to prove a point," says Ames. With the fast-paced "You Bug Me Honey," Ames seems ready to do just that, with the album now out in stores May 2nd. "And it is a surprise," says Texas Tropix Record Label owner Jesse Alvarado, "Ames not only holds the Valley's Number 1 most requested song, but the 2nd, "The Bug Song" and the 3rd with "Swing Swinging." And she's not finished either. She has a 2nd CD coming out in October, a series of music videos, and a 3rd CD in the works.