Four albums on, Texas troubadour Robert Ellis makes his grand statement, not by espousing views on the world around him, but by sharing his tangled emotions and conflicts of the heart. It’s self-obsessed in a way, especially given the eponymous title, but Ellis finds plenty of common ground—the longing for love, the pain of shattered circumstance and the tenuous bonds that bring people together. Those aren’t necessarily upbeat themes but, happily, the melodies are often as exuberant as they are expressive. The motif varies throughout, from the hopeful approach of “Perfect Strangers” and the upward gaze of “Amanda Jane” to the earnest and amiable “California” (“Maybe I’ll fall in love someday, but I’m not going to hold my breath”), the abstract noodling of “It’s Not OK,” and the strings and sway of the bittersweet “You’re Not the One.” The result is a fairly comprehensive song cycle on the tattered whims of the individual ego, and Ellis’ ambitions remain conveniently at the core. If nothing else, it shows his willingness to bare his soul for the sake of the song and, in so doing, effectively advancing his career at the same time. Suffice it to say, Robert Ellis does that and more.