CD-Charts Position 1
Average Rating:

Just Us Kids

by: James McMurtry

Release Date April 15, 2008
I have all of Jame's albums and for the most part love his work. I grew up in a small rural town and in many ways, he really weaves a nice story together out of nothing no-name towns, backwoods roads, and the people who live in those places. His past albums are great because while there is a sort of political,satirical edge to them but the politics doesn't take over the music or do any preaching. In my opinion, Saint Mary of the Woods is his best album to date. But with the release of Childish things, he sort of took a turn into being more political in a blunt, in you face sort of way.

Perhaps some people like that. But as for me, I don't care for it because since his latest album is specifically about the current President and ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 2
Average Rating:

Childish Things

by: James McMurtry

Release Date September 06, 2005
James McMurtry sees things a little more askew than most of us. The final song on "Childish Things" comments on how little things seem to have changed.

Departing Chicago at 9:52
In clean desert camo all baggy and loose
Sits an Iowa Guardsman alone by the gate
The place sure looked different, in 1968
When he traveled with mom, first time on a plane
To visit some kin, he's forgotten their names
But he remembers the soldiers, still in their teens
In their spit polished boots and their pressed army greens
With the creases so sharp, and their faces so smooth
But their eyes looked so heavy, he wondered how they could move
Now he's got that same look, like his insides are black ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 3
Average Rating:

Where'd You Hide the Body

by: James McMurtry

Release Date February 01, 2008
I don't know If anyone that reads these has not yet heard "McMurtry" sing can understand what we talk about by his story telling. He Is brilliant and deserving of much more fame and attention than he gets.
This Cd Is one of my favorites of his. Yes the songs are all catchy filled with layers of melodic orchestration.
This would be a good CD for anyone to start listening!

CD-Charts Position 4
Average Rating:

Too Long in the Wasteland

by: James McMurtry

Release Date February 01, 2008
I don't want to sound like a crazy person, but in my book this tops my list for best album ever recorded. I have eclectic tastes in music, and I am an audiophle (I have a very good home stereo system). This album is so musical, thoughtful, interesting and well recorded, that it is on my list of "desert island" records. I have two vinyl copies and one on CD. Simply amazing. The track "Angeline" may be the best simple guitar and vocal track I have ever heard. I know that I must sound like a nutcase, but I love music and I listen to a lot of different stuff... this is as good as it gets. Everyone in the USA should own a copy. You can tell I like this one.

CD-Charts Position 5
Average Rating:

Live in Aught-Three

by: James McMurtry & the Heartless Bastards

Release Date March 23, 2004
This is the first McMurtry album you should buy. It's got most of his classics performed perfectly. McMurtry's family literary humor shines through in "Choctaw Bingo" and "60 Acres", while his songwriting prowess is more clearly defined in "No More Buffalo" and "I'm not from here". Classic songs abound on this album. McMurtry covers Townes Van Zandt's beautiful "Rex's Blues", to close out an album filled to the brim with great live music, clocking in near 80 minutes. You really get your money's worth with this pick-up.

CD-Charts Position 6
Average Rating:

Candyland

by: James McMurtry

Release Date March 01, 2008
James McMurtry is one of those rare artists who have been getting progressively better with each album. His stellar debut, Too Long in the Wasteland, was a classic piece of American agitation rock. McMurtry, son of Larry McMurtry, is a literate lyricist with a keen eye for detail and a downbeat look at the inconsistencies of life. But like many superb debut artists, the sophomore album was not quite as good as the debut.

"Candyland" was guided towards a heartland rock sound (likely due to John Mellencamp's production and members of his band on board as players) and in later years, McMurtry has become a terrific folk-singer. The opener, "Where's Johnny" is kind of the anti-"Jack and Diane," so it is easy to see Mellencamp's attraction. (Think ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 7
Average Rating:

Saint Mary of the Woods

by: James Mcmurtry

Release Date September 17, 2002
I wonder if it ever bothers James McMurtry that he can't sing without sounding like somebody reading out of the Old Testament.

On his sixth album, McMurtry maintains his less-than-subtle condemnation of American complacency and rural smugness. Though the opening track, "Dry River," refers to writer Dave Alvin's native Southern California, the album is clearly rooted in the Texas and Virginia where McMurtry's roots live to this day. And everything in his world, from nature to families to whole communities, is broken on some level.

Heavy-rotation singles like "Out Here in the Middle" and the title cut give a good impression of what this album actually sounds like. While individual tracks play with sound, like the rapid shuffle of ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 8
Average Rating:

Americana Master Series: Best of the Sugar Hill Years

by: James McMurtry

Release Date March 13, 2007
This is the best of James McMurtry's earlier recordings with Sugar Hill. He's one of the best of the Texas singer-songwriters and the son of author, Larry McMurtry. He's had musical help from such greats as Bruce Hornsby and John Cougar Mellencamp. His lyrics are strong, there are no punches pulled here and a couple of these songs might shock you with their frankness.

This is an excellent intro to McMurtry's work. It includes some greats, including: "60 Acres" a rant about the unfairness of inheritance, "No More Buffalo" about the deterioration of the plains, "Out here in the Middle" about living in the countryside instead.

Rebecca Kyle, May 2008

CD-Charts Position 9
Average Rating:

It Had to Happen

by: James McMurtry

Release Date June 17, 1997
Have been a JM fan for about 3 years now,bought "live in Aught-three)first and loved it.I like this studio effort just as well, "sixty acres" is a real toe tapper. McMurty's ability to spin a tale of hardworking, rural, open space livelihoods is fantastic. I will be investigating more of his work and no doubt obtaining more.

CD-Charts Position 10
Average Rating:

Walk Between the Raindrops

by: James McMurtry

Release Date August 18, 1998
I really enjoy McMurtry's rootsy style. Thanks go to WNCS 104.7 FM The Point in Vermont for turning me on to him.