JAMES McMURTRY
& THE HEARTLESS BASTARDS
Live In Aught-Three (Compadre)
Reviewed by Shaun Dale

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I've always admired James McMurtry, but that hasn't always translated into enjoying James McMurtry. I have a running joke with a friend who's a fervent fan. He listens to McMurtry's studio releases in the car, and it's a little hard for me to believe he hasn't aimed the hood for the side of a bridge yet. Suffice to say, there aren't many cheery notes in a typical James McMurtry album.

This new release, though, his first live album, has me listening with new ears. Turns out McMurtry's one of those 'gotta hear him live' kind of guys, at least for me. Maybe it's something about the interplay with an audience, or maybe the band just tunes up differently for a show, but for me there's a whole bunch more appeal on this one than on the previous six combined.

Of course, if you're a fervent fan yourself, I'm not telling you anything, but if you're like me and have found the previous albums a little hard to process, take a shot with Live In Aught-Three. No promises, but I found out that I'd been missing a lot I'm glad to have caught on to.

Track List:

Saint Mary Of The Woods * Fraulein O. * Red Dress * No More Buffalo * 60 Acres * Rachel's Song * Out Here In The Middle * Choctaw Bingo * Lights Of Cheyenne * Levelland * Max's Theorem * I'm Not From Here * Too Long In The Wasteland * Rex's Blues

© 2004 - Shaun Dale