Where'd You Hide the Body

You got the guys most people know, who in the genre are considered the best, Tom Petty, Bob Dylan, Neil Young, Son Volt, Wilco, The jay hawks ect. And you are always trying to argue who is the best. Hands down it is James McMurtry. Lyrics, vocals, melody, guitar, and production are the very best I have ever heard. Always waiting for the next one, thanks for doing it the right way.

James is probably the best country/ rock/pop artist there is, according to me, his music and lyrics are great. Love it!!!

I found James McMurty in a round about way, starting with Jerry Jeff, leading to Ray Wylie Hubbard, then Gorf Morlix FINALLY to James McMurty. The musical journey was absolutely fantastic with James McMurty probably leading me somewhere else. This was the first album I listened to by this artist. There is not a bad song on this album but my favorites are Ionlanthe, Off and Running,Late Norther (instrumental) and of course Where'd You Hide the Body. You won't be disappointed with this album and you will find yourself purchasing the rest of his albums. Great vocals, superb guitar. What a revelation!

I've followed JM since "Wasteland" and still think this is his most consistent and best effort. I case you haven't heard, he's not blessed with a great voice, but it grows on you, as do the songs on this album which reflect a Springsteen-like vision of America (and particularly McMurtry's Texas homeland), that is, a contradictory mix of great hopes and great hardships. Like the Boss, his lyrics reflect a great knack for detail (no doubt influenced by his his Father's talents). Must listens are "Ionlanthe"; "Off and Running"; "Rachel's Song" and "Down Across the Delaware."

James McMurtry writes songs filled with real characters and sharp observations. Check out Levelland, Rachel's Song, Where'd You Hide the Body and Right Here Now.

How I could possibly be the first to review this masterpiece of Americana is beyond me. But there you have it: this album is beyond reproach. Nobody tells stories in their songs quite as well as James. And his stories are all interesting. They're not filled with the pedestrian tales of love and heartbreak. These songs document the everyday and touch any of us who live everyday lives. Many of these songs seem to deal with a longing for an escape from the monotony of life. Off and Running, Levelland, One More Winter, Down Across The Delaware all brilliantly evoke that longing and hope for something better. Rachel's Song has some of the most haunting and vivid lyrics about a single alcoholic mother struggling to survive. Despite their subjects, these songs and their characters leave you feeling high. Listening to this album is almost like reading a great novel about the American experience. The story is not always pretty, nor is it perfect, but it's America and therefore we enjoy the introspection. One of the greatest albums I have ever owned, without a doubt. I will give it to my kids some day. One of my favorite lines of all time comes from Levelland: "Mamma used to roll her hair back before the central air/ We'd sit outside and watch the stars at night/ She'd tell me to make a wish and I'd wish we both could fly/ Don't think she's seen the sky since we got the satellite dish."