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James McMurtry's Bio:

After the more laid-back excursion of <I>Walk Between the Raindrops</I>+ James McMurtry returns to the more raucous sound of his John Mellencamp-produced debut+ <I>Too Long in the Wasteland</I>+ and the follow-up+ <I>Candyland</I>. Aided by the electric guitars of Stephen Bruton+ David Grissom+ and McMurtry himself+ <I>Saint Mary of the Woods</I> rocks as much as it "folks." The talent for vividly painted+ finely honed observations of rural life and interactive hearts that he inherited from his father (Larry+ the novelist) has been augmented here by some diverse musical influences. "Lobo Town" borrows from Robert Palmer"s "Addicted to Love+" while the rhythm of his "Choctaw Bingo" lyrics can trace a direct lineage to Chuck Berry"s "Maybellene." McMurtry also covers a Dave Alvin tune ("Dry River") and enlists composing help from bandmates and engineers. Rather than add up to a writer having creative problems+ it appears here more like an egoless acceptance of inspiration where he finds it. It works. <I>Saint Mary of the Woods</I> is a fine addition to a first-rate catalog by a consistently excellent artist. <I>--Michael Ross</I>
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James McMurtry's Albums
Sony Music Alternative Sampler
Hitchhiker / Exampler
Childish Things

James McMurtry Album Editorial:
Within the song cycle of innocence and experience that is IChildish Things James McMurtry continues to explore musical territory between rock and a hard place. The social commentary of the relentlessly bleak We Cant Make It Here and Six-Year Drought is more pointed than ever while the arrangements throughout are as taut muscular and slap-in-the-face direct as the songs. While the opening See the Elephant the title cut and Memorial Day evoke a younger persons sense of wonder the mortal lessons have plainly taken their toll by the closing Holiday. Along the way highlights range from the accordion-laced yearning of Charlemagnes Home Town to the Chuck Berry-style guitar-driven rock of The Old Part of Town to a stirring duet with Joe Ely on Old Slew Foot. With his terse cut-to-the-bone artistry McMurtry never wastes a word or a note. Don McLeese
Saint Mary of the Woods

James McMurtry Album Editorial:
After the more laid-back excursion of IWalk Between the Raindrops James McMurtry returns to the more raucous sound of his John Mellencamp-produced debut IToo Long in the Wasteland and the follow-up ICandyland. Aided by the electric guitars of Stephen Bruton David Grissom and McMurtry himself ISaint Mary of the Woods rocks as much as it folks. The talent for vividly painted finely honed observations of rural life and interactive hearts that he inherited from his father (Larry the novelist) has been augmented here by some diverse musical influences. Lobo Town borrows from Robert Palmers Addicted to Love while the rhythm of his Choctaw Bingo lyrics can trace a direct lineage to Chuck Berrys Maybellene. McMurtry also covers a Dave Alvin tune (Dry River) and enlists composing help from bandmates and engineers. Rather than add up to a writer having creative problems it appears here more like an egoless acceptance of inspiration where he finds it. It works. ISaint Mary of the Woods is a fine addition to a first-rate catalog by a consistently excellent artist. Michael Ross
Walk Between the Raindrops

James McMurtry Album Editorial:
The son of Pulitzer Prize-winning author Larry McMurtry and the musical brethren of Texas songwriter Townes Van Zandt (whose Rexs Blues is suitably covered here) James McMurtry spits out curt one-liners in a flat deadpan that dissolves in uneasy silence. Produced by Lloyd Maines who contributes Dobro pedal steel and mandolin iWalk Through the Raindrops is quieter in tone than McMurtrys major label releases. The rustic arrangements make the lyrics just that much more folksy. Tired of Walking and Airline Agent are as close to topical songwriting as hes come while a verse like Every little bit counts/Though it may not count for much /They could be long forgotten /By the time you add `em up is a fine example of the existentialist frontier McMurtrys so fond of probing. Rob OConnor
It Had to Happen
Where&quot;d You Hide the Body
Candyland
Too Long in the Wasteland

James McMurtry Album Editorial:
Brought to the attention of Columbia Records by a fluke--John Mellencamp was friends with the artists father noted author Larry McMurtry--James McMurtry proved himself more than worthy of a record deal despite such family and industry connections with his debut album. He backed up his keen sense for lyrical detail with deft sturdy musicianship whether picking through delicate numbers such as Crazy Wind and Song for a Deck Hands Daughter or delivering anthemic roots rockers such as Painting by Numbers and Im Not from Here. With an appropriately desolate deadpan vocal delivery McMurtry tells tales of desperate small-town characters painting a vivid picture of an America that lurks far from the bright lights and big cities. Peter Blackstock

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