James McMurtry,
Live in Aught-Three

Label: Compadre Records
Year: 2004

(4½ out of 5)

James McMurtry has a gift for depicting the bleakness and despair of small town, unimportant people. While it has always been there on his studio albums, that haunting storytelling gift shines through with the compilation Live in Aught-Three.

Live isn't quite a greatest hits album. For one, McMurtry hasn't had many "hits." Also, several fan favorites—such as the career-launching "Painting By Numbers"—are nowhere to be found.

Live also isn't quite a concert album. While the tracks were recorded live, they are collected from several different show dates, and the splices sometimes lead to disjointed transitions.

What then is Live? It's a great introduction to new listeners, or a great re-introduction for those who have missed out on part of McMurtry's oeuvre. It's a guitar-driven, tightly paced display of Americana music at its best. It's a confirmation of McMurtry's place as one of the leading guitarists among the singer/songwriter crowd. And it's one hell of a fun ride.

McMurtry and his Heartless Bastards get things started with the driving "Saint Mary of the Woods," and they rarely slow down the pace. Highlights include "60 Acres," the epic "Choctaw Bingo," the new "Lights of Cheyenne," and the closing cover of Townes Van Zandt's "Rex's Blues." But it's hard to single out just a few standouts; this is the rare live album without a single clunker.

McMurtry and company are clearly comfortable on stage, as evidenced by the witty bantering between songs and the near-flawless performances. Even after 80 minutes, the listener is left wanting more.

Live in Aught-Three is a snapshot (or slideshow, considering the copy-and-paste approach) that captures a band at the peak of its craft.

Buy: Lone Star Music, Amazon

October 14, 2004