"(Michael Hall) sounds like an adenoidal Lou Reed on a tequila bender and writes like a bastard relation of Randy Newman, Buddy Holly and the young Graham Parker. —Steve Simels, Stereo Review

Hall's music career began in the late 70s as a freelance rock journalist. He was a contributor to the late great Trouser Press in New York, and eventually wound up as Music Editor for the Austin Chronicle and the Austin American-Statesman. He soon realized that he'd rather make music than write about it.

Hall founded the Wild Seeds in the mid-80s, and released their first record, Life is Grand (Life in Soul City) on his own Aznut Music label. By the time the nationally distributed Passport label signed the Wild Seeds and released Mud, Lies & Shame, with its local Austin, Texas hit "I'm Sorry, I Can't Rock You All Night Long," the band was a local institution. Unfortunately, Passport went bankrupt five months after the album's release. In 1989, Hall, looking for a change, became a civilian again, breaking up the Seeds. Cary Baker, in Spin, eulogized the band thusly: "Wild Seeds (RIP): US's greatest rock 'n' roll band."

In 1990, Hall released his first solo album, Quarter to Three on ILA's Record Collect label. The album featured J. D. Foster (Green on Red, Dwight Yoakam), Rich Brotherton (Kris MacKay, David Halley) and Rosie Flores. Chris Morris of Billboard called it "one of the best indie releases of the year."

After three years of traveling to and playing in Germany, Prague, England and Ireland, Michael Hall released his second solo album, Love is Murder, on the Safe House label in 1992. This collection of songs range from the raw and rollicking "Demolition Moon" and "Put Down that Pig" to the heart-aching love songs, "River of Love" and "I Wish I Were Home with You." The album's showcase piece, "Love is Murder," is a seven-and-a-half minute murder mystery/blood drama. There is also the stark piano existentialism of "Let's Take Some Drugs and Drive Around," and the two minute guitar fury of "What Did They Do With the President's Brain?"