My life is a series of hills and valleys. Seemingly impossible hills to climb at that, as Music Fog forges its way onto the landscape, and then valleys of enforced solitude to repair and catch one's breath before the next hill arises. Not that I would want it any other way. Back in the mid 90s, when the term Americana began to be used to describe this blend of roots music, there was a voice cutting its way out of the wilderness with a machete. A social critic of acute eye and attention to meter. It is a joy to welcome James McMurtry back in front of the Music Fog cameras. This time, James is bringing the classic, "Levelland."
By the time this song came out in 1995 on the album Where'd You Hide The Body, I was already in love with this Americana Emeritus songwriter. My "James" addiction began with the songs "Too Long In The Wasteland" and "Safe Side." The sardonic writing pulled me in, along with the clarity of vision and simplicity of delivery. Robert Earl Keen covered "Levelland" on his 1997 CD Picnic; there is no higher endorsement as to the quality of James' songwriting.
Levelland is a Texas panhandle town. As of the 2000 census, there were 12,866 residents. (Don't forget to get YOUR census survey back in!) Prominently featured in the WIKI for Levelland are reports of UFOs. Somehow, that doesn't surprise me. Wonder if they'll count them in this year's census?!
-Jessie
