Thomas Ruf at Ruf Records knows a real singer when he hears one. He also knows an entertaining mix of music, sex, and pop culture (the "redneck" variety on this album) can be a winning combination. After five earlier CDs on labels such as Antone's, Sire, and Rounder, Los Angeles native Candye Kane arrived at Ruf first in 2003 for Whole Lotta' Love.

Has Kane earned a right to sing the Blues? She thanks Ruf in the liner notes for "believing in me." She knew she had talent, "but I was rejected and written off repeatedly by record executives as absurd and meaningless," she honestly reveals. "Living in North East L.A. I became a gang banger at 15, and a mother at 17." Ain't that the Blues!

Capitalizing on the current redneck craze, and paralleling Gretchen Wilson "I'm A Redneck Woman," Kane poses as a "White Trash Girl" (and proud of it!) on this album. In the liner notes, she claims that the title is not such a stretch from her reality. "I earned my first real money posing for trashy magazines." With a face and plus-size body as beautiful as her voice, Kane follows in the soulful footsteps of Bessie Smith and Etta James.

"'Trash' is not an insult to me. It is the hard-earned badge of success that has sustained me when no one believed in my talent but myself. It is an honor to be called a trashy broad in the tradition of legends such as Divine and Gypsy Rose Lee," says Kane.

As the "White Trash Girl," Kane is a blazing, sunny force of nature, a paragon of female power. Her songs celebrate what it means to be a woman, whether she's dropping the "Estrogen Bomb," happily realizing "It Must Be Love," or simply being "Misunderstood" by friends and family. Her vocals on this CD's fourteen "trashy" selections are simply gorgeous. Nine of them are originals, and the rest are catchy covers that mesh perfectly with Kane's theme.

Blues songs have always been known for their tantalizing topics and lewd lyrics, but don't play songs 12 and 13, "Mistress Carmen" and "Masturbation Blues," if there's a chance that children may wander into the room.

Her three best songs on this album are the title track, the touching "What Happened to the Girl" (written by her son) and the exploding "Estrogen Bomb."

The title cut kicks off with some upbeat honkin' harmonica courtesy of Chicago-honed, Austin resident Gary Primich. Kane's all-star line up includes Jeff Ross on guitar; guest guitarists on one song each Johnny Moeller and David Grissom; Preston Hubbard on bass; drummer Damien Llanes; Riley Osbourn on keyboards; and The Texas Horns with producer Mark "Kaz" Kazanoff, Gary Slechta, John Mills and Randy Zimmerman. The album cover artwork is across-the-room-eye-catching by Scrojo.

Candye reveals that this "White Trash Girl" is looking for is a "low-down guy": "You don't have to have an education/You don't have to have a car that drives/Just a Harley and a heart of gold will keep me satisfied!"

Her future man better look out, though, for sometimes Candye can be "So dangerous, even vicious. You best comply with all my wishes, or I might drop the Estrogen Bomb!" Of course, all that estrogen can blow up in her own face when the person of her attentions is a female who could have been a friend if she hadn't disappeared in "What Happened To The Girl."

Check out the arrangement on John Sebastian's The Lovin' Spoonful "What A Day For A Daydream" – it's a shuffle that works! Even more surprising is her sincere performance of the Gospel song "Let There Be Peace On Earth" to close the CD.

"I hope you find a place for this white trash girl in your heart now that I will be on your CD shelf," Candye says. Art or trash? "One girl's art is another girl's trash is another girl's art," says Kane. Get the CD and decide for yourself, but either way, Candye Kane and her music are real pleasures!