James McMurtry - The Black Dog and the Wandering Boy (2025)
McMurtry’s The Black Dog and the Wandering Boy captures the raw honesty of aging with unflinching lyricism and sharp character sketches, marking another high point in his career. He voices blue-collar hardships and internal reckonings through vivid storytelling—tracks like “South Texas Lawman” and the title cut explore mortality, memory, and the creeping shadow of time. Backed by intimate, understated arrangements and the return of veteran producer Don Dixon, the album breathes with emotional resonance rather than studio gloss. It’s peppered with both humor and heartbreak, from opioid-lamenting opener “Laredo” to protest-tinged “Sons of the Second Sons” and stripped-down closer “Broken Freedom Song,” a Kristofferson cover. McMurtry stands tall among Americana giants, delivering what many critics hail as his most personal, vital work to date.
Genre: Roots rock
Country: US
Final Verdict: 63% (Good Album)
Yearly Ranking: 217th / 444
Highlight: The Color of Night
Made me think of:
Jason Isbell
Townes Van Zandt
Justin Townes Earle
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