Childish Things

On his seventh studio CD, Texas-based singer/songwriter James McMurtry once again delivers a collection of musical vignettes filled with highly detailed character studies, pointed social commentary, and profound melancholy. While his vivid descriptions of rural everymen and small town losers often recall the novels of his father Larry McMurtry, it's James's finely-honed brand of gritty guitar-driven roots rock and subtle, weathered vocals that give the lyrics their stark poignancy. Highlights include the bleak musical state-of-the-Union address, "We Can't Make it Here," and the cinematic family epic, "Holiday."