James McMurtry
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\n\n3-25-2023
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\n&ldquo\;James McMurtry \;writes like he&rsquo\;s lived a lifetime\,&rdquo\; said \;John Mellencamp \;back in 1989\, when &ldquo\;Too Long in the Wasteland&rdquo\; hit the Billboard 200. &ldquo\;James McMurtry is one of my very few favorite songwriters on Earth and these days he&rsquo\;s working at the top of his game\,&rdquo\; says Americana all-star \;Jason Isbell. The former earned McMurtry his highest Billboard 200 chart position in two decades (since eclipsed by &ldquo\;Complicated Game&rdquo\;) and notched Americana Music Award nominations. &ldquo\;Childish Things&rdquo\; spent six full weeks topping the \;Americana Music Radio chart \;in 2005 and 2006\, and won the \;Americana Music Association&rsquo\;s Album of the Year\, with &ldquo\;We Can&rsquo\;t Make It Here&rdquo\; named the organization&rsquo\;s \;Song of the Year.
\nOther accolades include a 1996 Grammy nomination for Long Form Music Video for Where&rsquo\;d You Hide the Body and an American Indie Award for Best Americana Album for It Had to Happen (1997).
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\nIn James McMurtry&rsquo\;s new effort\, "\;The Horses and the Hounds\,"\; the acclaimed songwriter backs personal narratives with effortless elegance (&ldquo\;Canola Fields&rdquo\;) and endless energy (&ldquo\;If It Don&rsquo\;t Bleed&rdquo\;). This first collection in seven years\, due August 20 on New West Records\, spotlights a seasoned tunesmith in peak form as he turns toward reflection (&ldquo\;Vaquero&rdquo\;) and revelation ( closer &ldquo\;Blackberry Winter&rdquo\;). Familiar foundations guide the journey. &ldquo\;There&rsquo\;s a definite Los Angeles vibe to this record\,&rdquo\; McMurtry says. &ldquo\;The ghost of Warren Zevon seems to be stomping around among the guitar tracks. Don&rsquo\;t know how he got in there. He never signed on for work for hire."\;
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\n&ldquo\;The simple fact is that James McMurtry may be the truest\, fiercest songwriter of his generation&hellip\;&rdquo\; - \;Stephen King | Entertainment Weekly
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\nThe most vital lyricist in America today.&rdquo\; &ndash\; \;Bob Harris\, BBC 2 RADIO
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\n&ldquo\;James McMurtry is a true Americana poet &ndash\; actually he is a poet regardless of genre&rdquo\; &ndash\; \;Michael Nesmith
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\n&ldquo\;McMurtry might be the best topical writer performing right now and (Just Us Kids) finds him at his finest.&rdquo\; \;&ndash\; \;Patterson Hood\, Drive-By Truckers
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\n&ldquo\;America&rsquo\;s fiercest songwriter&rdquo\; &ndash\; CNN
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\n \; \; \; \;VIDEO
\nBUY TICKETS\n
\n&ldquo\;James McMurtry \;writes like he&rsquo\;s lived a lifetime\,&rdquo\; said \;John Mellencamp \;back in 1989\, when &ldquo\;Too Long in the Wasteland&rdquo\; hit the Billboard 200. &ldquo\;James McMurtry is one of my very few favorite songwriters on Earth and these days he&rsquo\;s working at the top of his game\,&rdquo\; says Americana all-star \;Jason Isbell. The former earned McMurtry his highest Billboard 200 chart position in two decades (since eclipsed by &ldquo\;Complicated Game&rdquo\;) and notched Americana Music Award nominations. &ldquo\;Childish Things&rdquo\; spent six full weeks topping the \;Americana Music Radio chart \;in 2005 and 2006\, and won the \;Americana Music Association&rsquo\;s Album of the Year\, with &ldquo\;We Can&rsquo\;t Make It Here&rdquo\; named the organization&rsquo\;s \;Song of the Year.
\nOther accolades include a 1996 Grammy nomination for Long Form Music Video for Where&rsquo\;d You Hide the Body and an American Indie Award for Best Americana Album for It Had to Happen (1997).
\n
\nIn James McMurtry&rsquo\;s new effort\, "\;The Horses and the Hounds\,"\; the acclaimed songwriter backs personal narratives with effortless elegance (&ldquo\;Canola Fields&rdquo\;) and endless energy (&ldquo\;If It Don&rsquo\;t Bleed&rdquo\;). This first collection in seven years\, due August 20 on New West Records\, spotlights a seasoned tunesmith in peak form as he turns toward reflection (&ldquo\;Vaquero&rdquo\;) and revelation ( closer &ldquo\;Blackberry Winter&rdquo\;). Familiar foundations guide the journey. &ldquo\;There&rsquo\;s a definite Los Angeles vibe to this record\,&rdquo\; McMurtry says. &ldquo\;The ghost of Warren Zevon seems to be stomping around among the guitar tracks. Don&rsquo\;t know how he got in there. He never signed on for work for hire."\;
\n
\n&ldquo\;The simple fact is that James McMurtry may be the truest\, fiercest songwriter of his generation&hellip\;&rdquo\; - \;Stephen King | Entertainment Weekly
\n
\nThe most vital lyricist in America today.&rdquo\; &ndash\; \;Bob Harris\, BBC 2 RADIO
\n
\n&ldquo\;James McMurtry is a true Americana poet &ndash\; actually he is a poet regardless of genre&rdquo\; &ndash\; \;Michael Nesmith
\n
\n&ldquo\;McMurtry might be the best topical writer performing right now and (Just Us Kids) finds him at his finest.&rdquo\; \;&ndash\; \;Patterson Hood\, Drive-By Truckers
\n
\n&ldquo\;America&rsquo\;s fiercest songwriter&rdquo\; &ndash\; CNN
\n
\n \; \; \; \;VIDEO