August 22, 2021

James McMurtry – The Horses and the Hounds (New West)

James McMurtry is back after a seven-year break with an album as strong as anything he’s done. It’s The Horses and The Hounds.

It’s been a tough year for most everyone. James McMurtry lost his famous dad, acclaimed author Larry McMurty, just a few months ago. A sense of loss and the will to carry on are themes that permeate the 10 tracks that comprise The Horses and The Hounds.

Recorded in LA, at Jackson Browne’s studio, it’s the ghost of Warren Zevon that seems to haunt McMurtry’s songs.

At age 59, James is going through what a lot of “legacy” artists are…dealing with an uneasy future while addressing the past.

And so we find our hero thinking about re-connecting with an old acquaintance on album opener, Canola Fields.

“Cashin’ in on a thirty-year crush, you can’t be young and do that”.

Indeed.

McMurtry is in fine voice, if not a little haggard…but that fits the songs…and his band is smokin’, especially when they turn up the heat during the second half of the record.

These days he’s inclusive…”I don’t mind if you don’t look like me…I come from another time” he declares on If It Don’t Bleed, and empathetic…”The country boys will do the fighting…no one knows cause no one sees it on TV”, he observes on Operation Never Mind.

A female trucker jack knifes on black ice, in Jackie as a cello mourns.

James seems to live in a world populated by truckers, barmaids, vets and old flames…all rich fodder for his unique brand of storytelling.

The album lurches into high gear with the title track. A mighty guitar riff, played by co-writer David Grissom kicks things into overdrive as the female backing vocals wail.

I’m ready to send Lawyers, Guns and Money!

Ft. Walton Wake-Up Call is equally rousing as the middle aged man deals with today’s challenges…”Can’t get online to check the bank, Twitter’s on fire, my stocks all tank. But what’s really getting to me is, I keep losing my glasses!”.