Customer Reviews
Just Us Kids James McMurtry 
2008-05-18
Just as Good as Childish Things which was itself excellent, James McMurtry has pulled out another album of Americana, -songs this good paint a picture, - and few can do it so well, I would reccomend without Hesitaton
Just say what you really think, James! 
2008-05-08
The man's a genius, what can I say--he's got Dad (Larry McMurtry's) flair for words and his music mentors (Bruce Hornsby and John Cougar Mellencamp's) skill at putting together a killer song.
And no one would tell him to shut up and sing--because James doesn't pull punches about what he thinks. He'll belt out what he thinks in his road-worn Texas twang. No label's telling him what to do--"Just us Kids" is McMurtry's own production.
As a kid from the 60's, I like protest songs of all kinds, but McMurtry's given up his more subtle hammer and chisel for a power tool here, for example in "God Bless America (Pat mAcdonald must die" takes Timbuk3's two hit wonder, "National Holiday" quite a few steps further:
Gonna turn up the heat 'til it comes to a boil
Then we'll go get that Arab oil
We'll suck it all up through the barrel of a gun
Everyday's the end of days for some
The song sounds good, but will it stand the test of time?
If you want to hear something that's a bit deeper and still has strong take-no-prisoners lyrics, listen to "Fire Line Road," which details the story of how an abused child copes, distancing herself from her real life hoping it's all a reality show and "they can go home in a week or so".
"Ruby and Carlos" is also another standout, talking about a May-December romance between a man who packed up his dreams and drums leaving his woman out on the farm. The story-song parallels their lives as they go through wars, aging, alcoholism, etc.
"Fire Line Road," "Ruby and Carlos", "Just us Kids" and "Hurricane Party" make this collection merit 5 stars and those are the songs you should listen to if you love McMurtry's more timeless and elegant lyrics.
Rebecca Kyle, May 2008
McMurtry's Best 2008-05-01
I've been listening to James McMurtry since he started recording. This is his best album yet. I've listened to it almost constantly since I bought it a week ago. He writes lyrics suited to his flat vocal style, and music that takes advantage of his guitar style. I was only disappointed by one song on the album (Freeway View just does nothing for me). His ballads are written like short stories, and "Ruby and Carlos" and "Fire Line Road" are his best yet. If they don't bring tears to your eyes the first time you really listen to the lyrics you don't have a heart. His upbeat/rocking songs are angrier than he's been in the past. I'm pretty sure (to misquote Nanci Griffith another of my favorites) that James and I cancel each other out when we go to the polls here in Texas, but "Cheney's Toy" and "Ruins of the Realm" are catchy tunes, and the lyrics are clever. The best song on the album is the title track, the group of friends that never quite grow up until they find "their long hair turning grey, not so skinny, maybe not so free, not quite as many as we used to be". That tune was enough to make me pick up the phone and catch up with some college buddies I haven't talked to in fifteen years.
If you fall on the left side of the political spectrum run out and get this now. If, like me, you tend to lean to the right but you can put politics aside to listen to some of the best contemporary folk music out there today, run out and get this now.
Great Album 2008-05-01
I just love the new CD. A lot of the songs remind me a little bit of past albums. I like it more each time I listen to it, just like all the rest of James Mcmurty's music. I have all of his CD's and they never get old.
The Governor is so cool. I love the first two seconds the most. classic James McMurty guitar with that powerful greasy grind.
(Ray Wiley Hubbard described it better re: Rays version of Chaktaw Bingo)
True Americana. Keep up the great works James.
EDGY COUNTRY BLUES WITH OUTSTANDING LYRICS 2008-05-01
I'm not familiar with James McMurtry's music and this is the only album of his that I have. I recently bought 'Snake Farm' by Ray Wylie Hubbard, and I came across JM as I was browsing the Amazon site (although this particular album wasn't featured at that time) - and I'm very glad that I did. There's not a great deal that I can add to what other favourable reviews already say, so I will keep my review fairly short (for a change).
Although not a powerful singer, JM's vocals are fluent and his dry, laconic delivery is well suited to this type of music (edgy country blues) - in fact, there are some subtleties in his phrasing and timing that I enjoyed very much. His lyrics are some of the most potent that I've ever heard - JM 'pulls no punches'. Some of his songs deal with the all too familiar theme of fallout from political adventurism and corruption. Others are social commentaries about ordinary people living on the edge in smalltown America - people with only dreams or memories to help ease the feeling of desolation in their lives; whilst 'Fire Line Road' is a disturbing song about incestuous sexual abuse.
Most of the songs are slow to medium tempo, but 'Bayou Tortous' and 'Freeway View' are straight ahead rockers; there is one instrumental also - 'Brief Intermission'. The playing is first class - you can't fault the musicianship; there are some notable short solos : piercing electric lead guitar on 'Bayou Tortous' (James McMurtry), and searing Lap Steel on 'Fire Line Road' (Jon Dee Graham); also, some full-on boogie-woogie piano on 'Freeway View' courtesy of Ian McLagan (of the Small Faces).
With so many good songs (all penned by JM), it's difficult to choose any favourites - but if I had to, it would be these : 'Just Us Kids', 'Cheney's Toy', 'Hurricane Party', 'Ruby and Carlos', 'Fire Line Road' and 'Ruins of the Realm'.
I thought this was an album with some great edgy music and exceptionally fine lyrics; but if you are looking for 'sweetness and light', then don't come here. If JM's earlier albums are as good as this, I think I'll be buying these too; 4.5 stars.
another McMurtry classic for us kids 2008-07-06
McMurtry one of the best singer/songwriters recording now and god knows there are a lot of great ones that come out of Texas. He can rock with the best and take a hit at some lame politicians at the same time. He is one of the few that isn't afraid to be political in his art. But it's not always the government that pisses him off, he tells stories about people in many walks of life and what life has brought them. This is just another fine piece of music from someone who already has a stable full of great music. I am waiting for a DVD-Live in '03 would do.
He DOES know better... and this is it! 2008-07-02
I've been listening to McMurtry since he was recording with the support of Mellencamp's band, and I s'pose, the music hasn't changed all that much. Hell, why should it? Each album get's just a little better and James is becoming a more accomplished guitarist. Maybe he is a little negative about our political state, but give a listen, and if you don't agree with the sentiment, then you deserve whatever musical schlock you may be enjoying.
McMurtry strikes black gold with this one 2008-06-25
I've been a fan of James McMurtry for over a decade now, and he continues to put out some of the best written songs and stories I've heard. This new album is no exception, especially in the politically motivated and biting "God Bless America" where he sings "Gonna turn up the heat 'til it comes to a boil, Then we'll go get that Arab oil, We'll suck it all up through the barrel of a gun, Everyday's the end of days for some". Or the following sad tale of lost soldiers in "Cheney's Toy". For fans of McMurtry, this is a MUST HAVE, and possibly his best in years. For the most part this album rocks too, with only a couple of softer ballads/stories. Highly recommened.
It's 2008, do you know where your children are? 2008-06-08
McMurtry scores again with great music, wonderful storytelling and the best "State of the Nation" album since Springsteen's "Nebraska."
More Blows Against The Empire 2008-06-02
I have no idea why some reviewers complain about the political content of some of James McMurtry's songs. He's been delivering rhetorical body blows ever since his first album and he surely sees no reason to stop now. So if you are a conservative like myself who enjoys McMurtry's music, you learn to laugh along with his well-honed and well-aimed jabs at those who have surely earned them. Sure he's a leftie, but how many good right-wing singer/songwriters can you think of?
Just Us Kids finds McMurtry delivering another flurry of blows against the empire, but it also finds him releasing another album of mostly thoughtful and well-crafted songs. Bayou Tortous is the best rocker, the caustic God Bless America the best polemic, and the creepy Fire Line Road, evocative of the style of Dave Alvin, is the best story. Some criticize him for singing of people living on the margins, but that is where some of the most compelling stories are found.
With Just Us Kids you get just over an hour's worth of music you'll want to hear again and again. The CD comes with a booklet containing the lyrics which unfortunately is crammed tightly inside the rather flimsy cardboard casing. Be careful when removing! Some ask why McMurtry isn't more famous. Well, if he keeps releasing CDs of this quality, his time is coming soon.
