Murry Hammond
I Don’t Know Where I’m Going But I’m On My Way

Review By Chris Drabick

Murry Hammond’s “day job” is playing the bass for alt-country stalwarts Old 97’s, a band he actually co-founded with Rhett Miller in 1993. Over the course of the last few Old 97’s records, Hammond has taken a more visible role as vocalist, and contributed several standout moments. “Smokers” was a whimsical highlight of 2004’s otherwise dour Drag It Up, and “Up the Devil’s Pay” was certainly the most egregious omission from their contract-fulfilling Best of Old 97’s. Hammond’s long-rumored and much-anticipated solo bow arrives, and I Don’t Know Where I’m Going But I’m On My Way is a bit of a surprise.

Part of what has made Hammond’s Old 97’s contributions so outstanding is a strong sense of melody in addition to their lightheartedness. There is simply little to nothing that can be seen as lighthearted throughout Way, as the record is a mostly ultra-trad high lonesome piece. Hammond’s originals are mostly hits, “Lost at Sea” has a nifty Leonard Cohen-like feel to it, and “Next Time Take the Train” retains the feel (if not the delivery) of his Old 97’s songs. Unfortunately, Hammond populates far too much of the record with cover after cover, and too many of these are misses. The Carter family’s “I Never Will Marry” lumbers through five dull minutes of pump organ-driven grimness, and “Satan Your Kingdom Must Come Down” would only be a revelation to those unfamiliar with Uncle Tupelo’s reading of that song (meaning hardly anyone who’d own this record). Hammond still has a Way with his originals here, but would have done well to up the whimsy and lessen the number (and severity) of the covers.