The Graceless Age

One of the best albums of 2013. In a wider sense you could file under similar categories to John Grant or Kurt Vile but, in my view, John Murry could be the dark horse who will come good. The album draws on Murry's own experiences of love, loss, heartbreak and death - he was technically dead in the back of an ambulance on one occasion during his heavy drug phase, but has thankfully lived literally to tell the tale. Lyrically beautiful, the songs are cut through with some searing guitar work and a great attitude. Standout tracks include Little Colored Balloons, Southern Sky, Things We Lost In The Fire and - my personal favourite - the truly wonderful 'feel' track (with accompanying 'classic'-style lead guitar break!) No te da ganas de reir, Senor Malverde. A stunning album that repays repeated listens - and it's equally good and moody with the lights on or off!

I found out about John Murry reading an old Uncut my brother gave me. Decided to buy the album from reading the live review. What a happy accident. It's the best album I've heard in years. Up there with Mark Lanegans Bubblegum though probably a better piece of work. The music, lyrics and vocals are deep and moving. I think it's going to reward repeated listens and straight after it finished I thought 'I have to play this again as it drew me in so much. Albums at their best are a complete body of work with themes running through them. This is true here. Please enter John Murry's world, it's not an easy ride but bears rich rewards for your spirit and soul.

I'm not a regular reviewer but I just strongly feel this superb record deserves the widest possible audience. I only picked up on it via a track on a free Cd with Uncut magazine who also gave it a rave. John Murry has clearly had a tough life, but out of his suffering has come this cathartic masterpiece which was four years in the making. The style isn't innovative; it's got a little bit of a country feel but is above all Americana rock which is dripping with anger and hurt. Most importantly the songs are genius. It reminds me of John Grant, or even of some of Springsteen's solo stuff but is even better. Album of the year so far without a doubt.

This is a must have, if you like your music with the nerve ends exposed.John exorcises his old demons with an honesty and vulnerability seldom heard in the sanitised,anodyne offerings of many would be singer/songwriters.Delve into his background to get a flavour of where he's been, and the life experiences that inform this album.It has taken four years to bring it out,for various reasons.Chuck Prophet is a good friend, and assisted in the process.He's coming to the UK in the new year and I'll be seeing him at the voodoo rooms in Edinburgh in January. As a guide to the albums greatness,it has been included in the Uncut albums of the year,and only twenty make it through.Buy it and it will keep on giving.

Once again I heard one of the tracks on Uncut magazines' CD and liked it, listened to some others, and decided to buy the deluxe package. It might be a CD you need to be in the right mood for, (luckily I have been) but if you like 'Last Pale Light In The West' by Ben Nichols of Lucero, 'Nebraska' by Springsteen, mixed up with melodic Tom Waits, then this could be for you. Definitely worth a good listen. And a message to Uncut magazine, keep up the good work, thank-you.

After hearing "California" I had to get this album with the bonus disc, and the bonus disc for me is better than the album itself - superb, worth getting for sure.

I love this album. Rarely have I heard anyone who can convey such emotion through their songs. Little coloured ballons is the stand-out track, and the one I could listen to endlessly. John Murry is a man with the ability to channel every ounce of his feelings about love, life and loss into wonderful, heart-wrenching music. My favourite album of recent years.

This is quite simply the best album of the 21sr century. No kidding. i have not been so moved for years. Think profound, musical, tune laden, experimental and think original. Music making of this magnitude is a rare delight. There are fabulous arrangments and virtuoso playing. Do not miss the opportunity to listen to this masterpiece.