Besides releasing his classic album Big Daddy, the other great thing John Mellencamp did in 1989 was produce Too Long in the Wasteland, the debut album from James McMurtry, one of the finest talents to emerge from the robust Austin, TX, music scene. The artist formerly known as Cougar was working on the 1992 film Falling From Grace at the time, which was written by the singer’s father, acclaimed American novelist Larry McMurtry ( Lonesome Dove, Brokeback Mountain ), thus giving young James the opportunity to slip the Heartland rock icon a demo tape. A quarter century later, McMurtry is one of the most well-respected artists on the alt-country circuit, finding himself in the same position Mellencamp was back in ’89 with the release of his 10th studio album. And, like Big Daddy, the self-released Complicated Game, too, finds McMurtry at the top of his craft as Mellencamp was back in the Big Daddy era. Indeed, there is something about these twelve new tracks that feels like a high water mark in the career of a man Stephen King has hailed as “possibly the truest, fiercest songwriter of his generation.” The album certainly is a contrast to its predecessor, 2008’s electrified Just Kids, in that its largely constructed from acoustic instruments as McMurtry eschews the politics and amplification of his past endeavors to go long on the kind of easygoing acoustic transcendence that really brings out his mastery for description and setting in his songs. “Headed into town gonna meet you at the mercantile,” he sings on the album’s lead single “How’m I Gonna Find You Now”. “Take you to the Sonic get you grinning like a crocodile.” Meanwhile, songs like “Carlisle’s Haul,” “South Dakota” and “Long Island Sound” further utilize the acoustic format to expand McMurtry’s scope not only as a songwriter but a top-tier musician as well who’s just as quick to cut you down to size with a banjo as he would an electric guitar. Many are calling Complicated Game the best album of McMurtry’s career. Sounds about right to me.
News
Archive- Brooklyn Bowl to Host Benefit for Bad Brains’ HR, with Members of Bad Brains, Fishbone, Living Colour and More
- Warren Haynes, Bill Kreutzmann, Devon Allman and More Share Tributes to Dickey Betts
- Visual Splendor: Phish Commence Sphere Residency with Classics
- Listen: Brian Eno Updates David Bowie’s “Get Real” with Nature Sounds
- Listen: Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats Announce Fourth Full-Length Album ‘South of Here’ with “Heartless” Preview
- The String Cheese Incident Unveil The Mexico Incident with Daniel Donato, moe., Chromeo and More
- Lettuce Expand 2024 Tour Schedule: John Scofield, Ziggy Marley, BISCOLAND and More
- Watch: Widespread Panic Welcome Daniel Donato and George Porter Jr. for Final Set of Panic en le Playa Doce
Most Popular
- That’s Hot: Paris Hilton Plays Cornhole While Vampire Weekend Deliver Phish, Grateful Dead Medley Jam at Coachella
- Blues Traveler and Big Head Todd & The Monsters Revive Blue Monsters Tour for Summer 2024
- Billy Strings Starts Spring Tour with Bluegrass Standards in Tampa, Fla.
- Bob Marley’s Sons Detail The Legacy Tour, First Joint Run in Two-Decades
- Grateful Dead Release 16 Previously Unheard Outtakes, Alternate Versions and Mixes of “Scarlet Begonias,” “Ship Of Fools,” “China Doll” and More
- Listen: Sean Ono Lennon and James McCartney Unveil Collaborative Single “Primrose Hill”
- Watch: Ronnie Wood and Chuck Leavell Join The Black Crowes, Perform Faces “Stay With Me” for First Time Since 1990
- Ventura Offers Array of Alternatives to Skull & Roses This Week
No Comments comments associated with this post