James McMurtry plans new CD on new label
Monday, January 7, 2008 – James McMurtry will release a new disc in April on a new label.
"Just Us Kids" comes out April 15 on Lightning Rod Records with a dozen new songs.
McMurtry, who previously got political on "We Can't Make It Here," included "Cheney's Toy" on his ninth CD. The song is about the war in Iraq. The lyrics of "God Bless America" call out the corporate profiteering and government cronyism in leading the country to war.
The self-produced album includes The Faces's Ian McLagan's piano playing and Austin singer/songwriter John Dee Graham with a guitar solo on "Fireline Road." The rhythm section is McMurtry's longtime road band, Daren Hess and Ronnie Johnson.
"Just Us Kids" is the first release for Nashville-based Lightning Rod Records, distributed by Thirty Tigers/RED. Label president Logan Rogers previously worked as director of A&R for Compadre Records on the release of McMurtry's last two albums. "Working with James McMurtry has been a career highlight for me. He is a phenomenal artist with tremendous integrity, and I can think of no better debut release for Lightning Rod Records," said Rogers.
McMurtry and his band will launch a national tour in support the new music.
More news for James McMurtry
CD reviews for James McMurtry
Live in Europe
The only weakness of James McMurtry's "Live In Europe" is its brevity, clocking in at just over 40 minutes. Recorded in The Netherlands and Germany, McMurtry focuses primarily on songs from his excellent 2008 release "Just Us Kids."
Amongst the stronger tracks are Just Us Kids, a somewhat fatalistic view on aging ("Not so skinny, not so free/ Not so many as we used to be") and You'd A Thought, which also examines the aging process ("There's so »»» |
Just Us Kids
Singer-songwriter James McMurtry takes aim at the Bush administration, corporate greed and various societal ills in this self-produced effort. There's no confusing McMurtry's "God Bless America," a scathing indictment of cronyism and war profiteering in Iraq ("Negotiation's just no fun/ It don't serve our interests none/ Gonna turn up the heat till it comes to a boil/ Then we'll go get that Arab oil"), with the sentimental Irving Berlin classic. »»» |
Childish Things
The guitar-slinging son of novelist Larry McMurty continues to burn brightly, in his first studio recording since the blistering live set "Live in Aught-Three."
This serves up more of that dish - smart story-songs filled with literary detail, backed by strong guitar work and inventive arrangements. While McMurtry's limited vocal range might leave lesser talents sounding like Lou Reed choking on prairie dust, McMurtry uses it to his advantage, coming across like a wizened narrator of real-life incident. »»» |
Editorial: American Idol's Carrie Underwood can sing –
If anyone saw the Super Bowl – what a great great game that was – they would have heard American Idol winner and country superstar Carrie Underwood sing the National Anthem. Underwood did with her voice what Kelly Clarkson did last week with her written words – give it to Scott Borchetta, the head of Big Machine Records,, who tried defending Taylor Swift by knocking American Idol performers. »»»
Concert Review: McBride, Adkins shine sometimes –
As Martina McBride pointed out, the pairing of the country singer with Trace Adkins on their current jaunt was surprising. After all, she's of diva-quality voice, petite, non-controversial unless you call singing songs that empower women controversial. Adkins, on the other hand, has not been afraid to speak his mind with a kick butt attitude.... »»»
Concert Review: Eilen Jewell wears her musical hats well –
Eilen Jewell wears a lot of musical hats. The Idaho native, who now lives in Boston, fronts the Eilen (ee-lin) Jewell Band, a pretty much traditional country band. She's a member the Sacred Shakers, an octet doing gospel country with a country beat. And she has yet another project, Butcher Holler, covering Loretta Lynn songs.... »»»
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