New & Approved [Single]

Monte Montgomery | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (July 29, 2003)
• Original Release Date: June 18, 2003
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Single
• Label: Harmonic Records
• ASIN: B0000B0IGX
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (14 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #51,268 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #23 in Music > Indie Music > Blues > Texas Blues
  • #50 in Music > Indie Music > Pop > Singer-Songwriters
  • #76 in Music > Indie Music > Folk > Singer Songwriters

Track Listings

1. Wishing Well

2. Tug Of War

3. Took Too Long

4. All I Can Do

5. Sara Smile

6. Romeo & Juliet

7. Broken Arms

8. River

9. Lie To Me

10. Erased

11. Northeast Texas Women

12. In The Gaze Of The Spotlight's Eye

Editorial Reviews

About the Artist

Monte Montgomery Guitarist, Singer, Songwriter Monte Montgomery is best described by one word: Musical. Having grown up immersed in music, he’s been playing professionally since his teens, and is currently one of the hottest draws on the talent-packed Austin, TX music scene. Rated by Guitar One magazine as one of the Top 10 Best Undiscovered Guitarists in America, Monte has earned praise from both critics and fellow musicians for his stunning and imaginative six-string work as well as his abilities as a Singer and a Crafter of ear-catching pop-rock songs imbued with a deep roots sensibility. Monte recently released "New & Approved", a Live Album recorded in a very special setting featuring Monte and drummer Phil Bass in a Duo performance recorded at the Cactus Café in Austin, Texas. New & Approved showcases Monte’s ability to deliver not only as a virtuoso guitarist but also as a refined vocalist reflecting on all his gifts with class and finesse.

As Acoustic Guitar magazine notes, "Monte Montgomery is not your typical up-and-coming guitar god. His exquisitely crafted, melodically and rhythmically sophisticated pop songs suggest the best of Fleetwood Mac, Squeeze and The Police, while just happening to integrate the most mind-boggling guitar work in the state of Texas." Monte’s earlier releases put an accent on his full range of his talents. New & Approved gives the listener a hint of Montes’s dynamic rock n’ roll experience at his electrifying shows with Rich, Stunning guitar work and Powerful Song Deliveries.

Growing up in Birmingham, Alabama, Monte first learned piano and trumpet, and by the beginning of his adolescence, was a voracious listener to pop radio. After moving to Texas at the age of 12, he joined the legendary musical scene around the restored town of Luckenbach and began his impressive rise as a musical talent performing with his mother at a popular Hill Country picking parlor where he quickly absorbed everything he could. By his mid-teens, Montgomery was playing gigs around Austin and San Antonio, both with bands as an electric guitarist and in a variety of acoustic configurations. At the same time he developed his guitar chops absorbing the work of a variety of respected players such as Fleetwood Mac’s Lindsey Buckingham, Mark Knopfler, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Albert Lee, Steve Vai, Steve Morse and Larry Carlton. "I like it all," he explains of his musical influences.

Leading his own band, Monte began developing his trademark electrified acoustic guitar style. "I started playing acoustic at the beginning of each set, the response was so overwhelming that I kept the acoustic up there longer and longer. Then I just started playing all acoustic. I found I could do anything on acoustic I could do on electric if I turned it up loud enough."

After a stint living and playing in San Antonio, Monte set out to make his mark in the highly competitive Austin musical community. Starting out with a $50 gig at a small Austin Pub on a Tuesday night, Monte quickly attracted packed houses, graduating rapidly to filling the biggest clubs in the city. His live performances and Albums earned Monte words of praise in the music press and an ever-widening touring circuit outside of his Texas home base. As Texas Monthly noted, "He brings taste, precision, economy and a playful sense of timing to poppish songs with sturdy hooks and sings in a voice that’s equal parts grit and sunshine. And when you have the ability to make one guitar sound like two, who needs any more support than bass and drums."

Monte caught the ear of "Austin City Limits" producer Terry Lickona, who invited the relatively unknown talent to tape a segment of the legendary show. When Lickona introduced Montgomery to the audience at the artist’s "Austin City Limits" performance, he described Monte’s talent in a simple yet profound statement: "Monte Montgomery blows people away. There is no other way to describe it."

Monte’s co

Product Description

MONTE MONTGOMERY’S LATEST ALBUM TITLED NEW & APPROVED WAS RECORDED LIVE AT THE RENOWNED CACTUS CAFÉ IN AUSTIN, TEXAS FEATURING MONTE AND DRUMMER PHIL BASS AS A DUO IN A SPECIAL "ACOUSTIC" SETTING.

NEW & APPORVED INCLUDES UNIQUE RENDITIIONS OF SOME OLD FAVORITES ALONG WITH SONGS NEVER BEFORE RELEASED BY MONTE SUCH AS "LIE TO ME", "IN THE GAZE OF THE SPOTLIGHT’S EYE" AND "NORTHEAST TEXAS WOMEN". ALSO INCLUDED ARE EXCEPTIONAL PERFORMANCES OF "SARA SMILE" AND "ROMEO & JULIET".

NEW & APPROVED IS MONTE’S FIRST RELEASE IN OVER A YEAR AND HIS FIRST ON HIS OWN RECORD LABEL "HARMONIC RECORDS". ENTERPRISES - HARMONIC RECORDS P.O. BOX 790494 – SAN ANTONIO, TX 78279 [e-mail]

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars in one word......Wow, August 23, 2003

By 

Bert (Central Texas) - See all my reviews

This review is from: New & Approved (Audio CD)

Had the pleasure of hearing his music last night for the first time at a gig he was playing locally.This man is an extraordinary talent. I immediately bought this cd at the merchandise table they had set up there.My only complaint about this cd is that it doesn't include everything we heard him perform last night........he will literally drop your jaw to the floor.He has the whole package..........the licks,the voice,and the songwriting skills. I guess I became a "Montiac" last night. Wish it were a double-live set. Bert

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Amazing!!!, December 30, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: New & Approved (Audio CD)

Monte Montgomery's music is incredible and the songs on this album prove he is one of the greatest guitar players of all time. The live performances put all other guitar players to shame. Monte's solos, vocals, and melodies are killer. The only song that wasn't on here is "When Love Comes Knock'n" which was featured in the awesome movie "Pico de Gallo". Otherwise, this is a top notch album and should be purchased by all Monte fans.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Amazing Vocals, Great Guitar Work!!!, December 10, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: New & Approved (Audio CD)

I've seen Monte live several times and I'm always amazed more with each performance I catch. I urge everyone that enjoys real music to order this CD and anything else Monte puts out. With performances like those on New & Approved, I feel Monte's well on his way to being a huge star. I highly recommend his latest release "The Story Of Love" (I found it at his official website www.montemontgomery.com a few days ago) - ROCK ON MONTE