Rhett McLaughlin, famous from his YouTube channel “Good Mythical Morning,” recently released a full-length country album under the artist name James and the Shame, about his struggle reconciling his departure from evangelical Christianity.  

“Good Mythical Morning’s” first episode aired in 2012. Over the next decade, Rhett and his co-host, Link Neal, would build a media studio with over one hundred employees, uploading videos every day of the week, along with content like podcasts and other channels under the Mythical brand.  

Rhett and Link have a long history of music within their career, performing in groups at their college and releasing comedic music videos on their YouTube channels. However, this album is a new step in Rhett’s career, as it is a solo debut with comedic aspects absent.

On January 27, 2020, Rhett and Link released an episode of their podcast “Ear Biscuits” titled “Rhett’s Spiritual Deconstruction” that revealed Rhett’s struggles with his evangelical Christian identity and talked about his personal choice to separate himself from the religion.  

Now, in September 2022, Rhett released a 41-minute album, “Human Overboard,” under the name James and the Shame, dissecting his separation from his religion and the lasting effects that it has had on his life. Immediately shown on the album cover, Rhett effectively jumped ship from his life as he knew it.  

The first song on the album, “Believe Me,” opens with an enticing guitar solo, fully embracing inspirations from Johnny Cash, Willie Nelson, Merle Haggard and other folk-country icons. The lyricism in the song is powerful, as the song is a plea to critics of Rhett’s spiritual deconstruction to listen to listen to him now. Rhett’s voice is immediately enticing, embracing a slight country twang that perfectly complements the background guitar.

Three of my favorite songs on the album are “Sorry,” “Where We’re Going,” and “Creek and Back,” which are some of the most heartfelt tracks of this album. “Sorry” showcases Rhett’s range, hitting lower registers and higher registers. This song is deeply personal and emotional, as Rhett processes the effects that his spiritual deconstruction had on his relationship with his parents. “Where We’re Going” is a sweet love song, which Rhett wrote for his wife. His wife, Jessie McLaughlin, joins him in this song, singing background harmonies that add a sweet depth to the melody. “Creek and Back” is a song dedicated to Rhett’s two children. It is a piano ballad, most similar to some Elton John tunes, and is a beautiful song that reflects and comments on fatherhood.

In the latter half of the album, “Kill a Man” is one of the more unique songs on the album. Rhett utilizes his full range in this song, staying lower at the beginning of the song while climbing higher as the song goes on. “Kill a Man” also features some impressive guitar licks.  

“Human Overboard” is a step into new territory for YouTube star Rhett McLaughlin as he explores the tribulations of jumping ship from a religion he followed his entire life.  Musically, the album is an homage to the country-folk world, embracing its founding fathers like Johnny Cash and Willie Nelson. It is a unique, personal exploration that showcases Rhett’s raw musical talent and powerful lyricism.