James McMurtry - Just Us Kids

It's only Texas Wasteland

Too Long in the Wasteland, indeed. James McMurtry's scathing collection of character sketches blisters as an indictment of the last eight years, commenting on greed ("God Bless America"), the downtrodden and left behind ("Fireline Road) and the chimp in chief himself ("Cheney's Toy'). It's likely the most political album you'll hear this year outside of punk rock (New Wave, The Bright Lights of America), and digs deeply into McMurtry's Lou Reed by way of Texas singing style.

As usually for McMurtry, the lyrics are hyper-literate. Take this example from the down-on-his-luck man waiting out the storm in "Hurricane Party":

Now there's water up past the wheel wells of my
Ford and I don't guess that it'll run.
But I left a pack of Winston's on the dash,
could you fetch 'em for me son?
The morning's first cigarette,
that's as good as it gets all day, I should know by now.
But there's no one to talk to when the lines go down.

But like his scathing attack on the economics of trickle down "We Can't Make it Here Anymore" on Childish Things, he saves his most withering jabs for the political songs.

We'll fight 'em in the land, we'll fight 'em in the air,
well a cowboy says we got to fight 'em over there.
He ain't seen nothing like it since Saigon fell.
Dancin' in the ruins 'cause we might as well.
Dancin' in the ruins of the realm
A fool and a mad man at the helm.

That's from "Ruins of the Realm," which doesn't address anyone by name the way "Cheney's Toy" or "God Bless America" does, but they're potent all the same. The music itself recalls mentor John Mellencamp's more socially pointed rock or the rabblerousing of Steve Earle. The less political of the songs, "Bayou Tortoise" and the title song offer topical looks at life and kick up some dust. McMurtry is in a position in folk music that has few peers, and "Just Us Kids," like so many of his other albums, offers heartland folk-rock with a fierce take on life. October 13, 2008

Sounds dated already.

I have all of Jame's albums and for the most part love his work. I grew up in a small rural town and in many ways, he really weaves a nice story together out of nothing no-name towns, backwoods roads, and the people who live in those places. His past albums are great because while there is a sort of political,satirical edge to them but the politics doesn't take over the music or do any preaching. In my opinion, Saint Mary of the Woods is his best album to date. But with the release of Childish things, he sort of took a turn into being more political in a blunt, in you face sort of way.

Perhaps some people like that. But as for me, I don't care for it because since his latest album is specifically about the current President and Vice President, the album already sounds dated and old. When you make an album about specific politics, then it has a limited lifespan of relevancy. Especially since this album was released at the tail end of the Bush White House.

Lastly, the album doesn't have any heart. I don't feel like the lyrics are as creative as some of his older work. When I buy his albums, they always grow on me to where they become like old friends. He has a gift of writing words that you really care about more so than the music. Not so in this one. I've owned it for months now and still find myself skipping tracks. So for me, this album was a dud. Sorry James. I still enjoy your work, but this one didn't do it for me. September 22, 2008

A great CD

This was my first James McMurtry albulm but it won't be my last. Great songs and lyrics. Country music the way it ought to be played. September 9, 2008

Fine music and fine stories

For music listeners who enjoy interesting stories about real people and situations, along the lines of Steve Earle, James McMurtry's "Just Us Kids" offers a feast. Just don't expect to come away from the feast feeling upbeat. One listen to "Fireline Road" or "Ruby and Carlos" will cure any tendency toward optimism about the human condition. But the first snarling guitar lines of "Bayou Tortuous" promise fine blues-tinged roots rock and the album delivers on that promise. Hints of all kinds of American music abound but at the same time the sound is fresh. Four stars because his baritone vocals have limited range and tend toward monotone. September 7, 2008

Songs like Dad's books.

The apple doesn't fall from the tree as far as talent goes. Larry's lucky James writes songs and not novels. Great music. September 6, 2008

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