NEW JAMES McMURTRY STUDIO ALBUM, CHILDISH THINGS, FOLLOWS WIDELY PRAISED LIVE ALBUM
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AUSTIN, Texas - In 2003 ("aught three"),
James McMurtry joined forces with Houston's Compadre Records and
released the universally praised Live in Aught-Three. This summer
finds McMurtry back with his first studio album in more three years,
Childish Things, due out September 6 on Compadre Records. |
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The new album features ten new McMurtry-penned
tunes as well as covers of Peter Case's "The Old Part of Town"
and the country standard "Ole Slew Foot."
While Childish Things isn't an overtly political record, the centerpiece
has to be "We Can't Make It Here," McMurtry's commentary on
the current state of the union. "I've always been a little put off
by activists. So you know it's a dire situation when I have to become
one myself," he explains. McMurtry made the song available as a free
download on his website during the 2004 election. The response to the
track was immediate and overwhelming and the song continues to be one
of the most requested on stations across the country. Stephen King described
the song as "stark and wrenchingly direct, this may be the best American
protest song since (Bob Dylan's) 'Masters of War.'" Childish Things
marks the first time the track will be available on disc without FCC-sensitive
words censored.
Author Stephen King describes Ft. Worth native McMurtry as "the truest,
fiercest songwriter of his generation." The son of acclaimed author
Larry McMurtry (Lonesome Dove, Terms of Endearment), James grew up on
a steady diet of Johnny Cash and Roy Acuff records. His first album, released
in 1989, was produced by John Mellencamp and marked the beginning of a
series of critically acclaimed projects for Columbia and Sugar Hill.
In 2003, McMurtry released Live in Aught-Three, which became one of the
most acclaimed live rock albums in decades. Entertainment Weekly noted,
"His erudite guitar work fills out the melody, and there's plenty
of excitement in his densely withering portraits and wry asides"
while the hometown Austin Chronicle raved, "Like McMurtry's lyrics,
this is no-frills, freak-flag rock. Turn it up."
McMurtry will tour the U.S. for the remainder of 2005 and into next year
in support of the album. He will appear at the nationally-televised Farm
Aid concert in September.
What people
are saying about James McMurtry:
| "The truest,
fiercest songwriter of his generation..." -- Stephen King, Entertainment Weekly |
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| "This guy can tell a story and boy you really feel like you've been there the entire time." - Matthew McConaughey | |
| "James McMurtry can compel you to boogie while you consider the plight of his characters." - Rolling Stone | |
| "Brings a literate edge to roots sounds." - Time Out New York | |
| "'We Can't Make It Here' is a seven-minute state-of-the-union mantra that looks at the Bush claims of economic recovery and finds nothing but smoke and mirrors." - Texas Monthly | |
| "While the voice of McMurtry may not be the envy of the pop world (think Lou Reed with a nasal twang), it's just right for his short-story songs. It's filled with portent and warning, like the sound of a high howling wind sweeping menacingly across the prairie. It's a voice you notice, a voice you can't ignore." - Chicago Sun-Times | |
For more information regarding James McMurtry,
please contact conqueroo:
Cary Baker (818) 501-2001 cary@conqueroo.com--