Magee Payne Giving Up The Ghost CD Review

Giving Up the Ghost is Magee Payne’s sophomore effort and was released in April of 2004. 

Those not familiar with Magee, he’s been making music for quite a few years and has had the opportunity to open up for many different Texas artists across the state. 

His first CD, Habits of the Heart, was well received in the Texas music community and opened up a lot of doors for Magee and his band.

Learn the easy songs to play on the keyboard and train your muscle memory with https://bluebuzzmusic.com/

The new CD was recorded at Behind the Barn Studios and produced by Doc Wesson and Curtis Tilton. 

One listens to this CD you can tell that Doc and Curtis had their hand in the production. 

Everything sounds great and John Inman’s talent and creativity are evident in this recording as well. 

Credit needs to also go to Magee for great songwriting, vocals, and rhythm guitar work and Diamond Jim Richmond and the rest of Magee’s band for making all the songs sound so good.

Giving Up the Ghost starts off with “A Way Away From You” which really sets the mood for the CD. 

I will say this about this CD, Magee has come a long way since his first recording. 

That’s not to say that Habits of the Heart wasn’t any good, quite the opposite, but Magee’s growth as musician and songwriter is very evident on this CD. 

Moving on through the CD, you come to track two and will probably back that one up a few times. 

In my opinion “Every Sip I Take” is the best song on the CD. 

It has a nice melody and Magee shows a softer side to his music with the lyrics and smooth voice. 

It tells the story of relationship problems between a man and a woman and a bottle of whiskey. 

I’m sure most of us can relate to that at some point in our life. 

I can’t get enough of this song! 

“Whiskey for Your Friend” is another well-written song that tells the story of new beginnings, at least the way I interpret it. 

It’s a song of reflection and hope. Good stuff. 

"Drift Off to Dream” is a fun song and being released as the single off the CD for radio play. 

Its kind of like Pink Floyd meets Jerry Jeff Walker but I like it a lot. 

I caught one of Magee’s shows and wondered how he was going to pull this song off live (because of all the sound effects and layers) but it sounds just as good to live as it does on this CD. 

He and the band call this their acid-induced song even though no one in the band has experienced dropping acid. 

It’s an interesting song and really grows on you. 

It’s a close second for my favorite track. 

Magee loves to sing about whiskey and there are few mentions of it throughout the CD like the sad song, “Bottom of the Glass.” 

Magee has a way of putting what’s in his heart into song and does it well, whether on a stage or in the studio. 

As we wind down to the end of the CD, there are two more jewels to be found on Giving up the Ghost.

“She” has a real Dire Strait sound to it adding to the complexity in this collection of songs and “Return of the Grievous Angel” is an awesome cover of one Gram Parson’s best songs and the only song on the CD that Magee didn’t write himself.

If you're looking for a Kenny Chesney or Tim McGraw rip off, this one’s not it. 

If you're looking for some good ole’ Americana Texas-style, then Magee’s new CD, Giving up the Ghost delivers. 

The lyrics are honest, the vocals are true and the melody is dead on. If you can catch one of Magee’s live shows, treat yourself to it. 

It’s the perfect complement to this CD.