Texas Platters

John Arthur Martinez

Like his college roommate Todd Snider, John Arthur Martinez tends toward the folky side of country-flavored story-songs. Purgatory Road finds an even keel with the rough highway tales of self-incrimination and loss ("Can't Outdrink the Truth," "Utopia") that are thoughtful without wallowing in hopelessness and despair ("Cobalt Blue," "Thunder & Lightning"). "Que No Puede Ver" puts him square in the Americano camp, too.