God bless Kickstarter. Jo Dee Messina, one of the best, feistiest country singers around (see: "My Give a Damn's Busted"), last released a CD in 2005. Wasn't her choice; was her record label's. Messina and the label finally parted ways in 2012, and the singer turned to crowd-funding to finance a new album.

The fans didn't just kick in dough; they also got a say in which songs made it onto the CD and which would be the first single. It's wonderful to have Messina back, even if "Me" feels front-loaded with too many mid-tempo numbers with similar arrangements. But that's a small kvetch.

Once "Me" kicks into "A Woman's Rant" - a hell-raisin' reflection on a wife's life ("Husband, kids, work all day, I got PMS and PTA/Find the thing my kid can't find, I need a drink but there's no time") - things get all fun and spitfirey, followed by the trifecta of "Take It," "I'm Free" and "He's Messed Up." Messina's voice has the same clarion glory as always, and her attitude remains that of a never-say-die fighter.