After two releases as leader of the Wagoneers and a debut solo effort, the Austin native has come up with his best disc yet. The ways of melody are mysterious--how do you send a tune through unexpected twists and turns and still end up with perfect symmetry?--but Warden has mastered the craft. All 10 tunes on "Here I Am" grab the ear with an unusual left-hand turn in the vocal line and then resolve that detour with a satisfying harmony at the end of each chorus. --Geoffrey Himes