JAMES MCMURTRY
Saint Mary of the Woods (Sugar Hill)
Reviewed by Eric Steiner

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James McMurtry's at it again. He's put out another first class record. His second Sugar Hill release, Saint Mary of the Woods, takes us through some pretty rough emotional and geographic landscapes. The wistful "Out in the Middle" features "tractor pulls and Red Man chew/corporate relo refugees that need love too/Ain't seen Elvis in a year or two." While the majority of the songs are acoustic, James plugs in his electric guitar on the hard rocking "Lobo Town," the sultry "Red Dress," and the 8-minute rollicking "Choctaw Bingo." In addition to the electric guitar, James has added keyboards that help flesh out his full- band sound nicely. McMurtry's images of throwing dice, dipping snuff, poured bourbon on a fresh grave, and folks who make crystal meth out back ("'cause the 'shine don't sell") all tell me that McMurtry's back in fine songwriting form.

Track List:

Dry River* Valley Road * Saint Mary of the Woods * Out Here in the Middle * Lobo Town * Broken Bed * Red Dress * Gulf Road * Gone to the Y * Choctaw Bingo

© 2002 - Eric Steiner