Southern Jangle’s Thoughtful Rebel
Murray Attatway of Guadacanal Diary
Murray Attaway always played the thoughtful rebel. The sharp-eyed lyricist whose band, Guadalcanal Diary, never quite rode the same crest as some of the other bands from Athens, Georgia, but who has refused to be a footnote in the Southern alt-rock encyclopedia.
Formed in Marietta, just close enough for Athens envy yet far enough away to cultivate its own quirks, Guadalcanal Diary turned out four studio albums in the ’80s that welded Attaway’s literate wit to a twangy jangle and sly spiritual undercurrent.
The band’s debut, Walking in the Shadow of the Big Man, grabbed the attention of rock critics, and college radio DJs swooned, and for a time, Attaway’s outfit seemed poised for bigger things.
The following two Guadalcanal Diary albums, 2×4 and Flip-Flop, steered them into poppier waters.
The songs were catchy enough to hint that superstardom was around the corner but elusive enough that it never materialized. While those bigger things may have evaded the band, they cultivated a very loyal base who recognized Attaway’s offbeat charm, a neat trick of mixing reverence and irreverence in the same melodic breath.
By the end of the 80s, Guadalcanal Diary had dissolved, leaving fans with an oeuvre that felt complete yet unfinished.
Solitude brought forth In Thrall in 1993, his debut solo statement, where Attaway stripped back the jangle just enough to spotlight that voice—both literal and lyrical. He wore his introspection a bit more openly, letting his keen sense of wonder shine through tight arrangements and a moody production that almost borders on progressive rock. Those who listened to In Thrall felt rewarded, but it never lit up the charts and remains unavailable on any streaming service.
A second Murray Attaway solo album was recorded, but due to the typical record label shape-shifting, it was shelved and has yet to be released.
True to form, he later turned to a fresh medium: the Dazzle Dudes podcast, a tongue-in-cheek exploration of a fictional glam band in Atlanta. Think comedic radio play meets sly rock commentary via A Prarie Home Companion or Our Town. Attaway’s wit remains intact, and he has a flair for conjuring vivid characters out of the same melodic imagination that makes his tunes such engaging earworms.
With Dazzle Dudes, he reminds us that no matter the format—alt-rock single, solo project, or audio fiction—Attaway has always been about storytelling, insight, and a dash of wry humor.
That’s the charm of Murray Attaway: perhaps never the most famous voice in Georgia, but certainly among the most deserving of an extended encore.
That encore arrives on May 9th with his first album in over thirty years, Tense Music Plays. The record reveals a moody, introspective side, fusing hypnotic guitars with vocals that, very much on brand, demand your undivided attention. The subtle rhythms create tension while deft lyricism amplifies each track’s allure.
It’s ultimately a statement that resonates deeper with every listen.
This is our conversation with Murray Attaway:
