James McMurtry's latest pulls no punches lyrically or musically.
On his ninth album, the native Texan is aided and abetted by his rhythm section, The Heartless Bastards, who inject not only heart but a steel-tough foundation into rollicking, rousing, blues-soaked rock.
McMurtry enlivens his original songs with a growling, dusty voice reminiscent of Kris Kristofferson or Ramblin' Jack Elliott. It ain't pretty, but it's an effective way to deliver his wry slices of life. And like his illustrious novelist father, Larry, he has a poet's soul coupled with a sardonic sense of humor and attention to detail.
His songs ramble to Stones-tempered rock as they touch on the little guy wronged, post-Katrina, highway drifters, beer-soaked bars, stale cigarettes and the state of the Union.
"Just Us Kids" is no kid's stuff. It's a set of hard-hitting folk packing a rock-hard punch.
- Eric Feber, The Pilot
James McMurtry: "Just Us Kids"
Rating: DOwnload a few tracks
Tracks to download: "Bayou Tortous," "Cheney's Toys," "Freeway View"
In concert: 9 p.m. Wednesday, May 28, at The Jewish Mother, 3108 Pacific Ave., Virginia Beach. $15. (757) 422-5430
Baby-faced acoustic guitarist Earl Klugh created a stir when he debuted as a leader in the mid-1970s. Owing more to Chet Atkins than jazz guitarists, he offered a refreshing, airy sound encompassing jazz, pop, classical and R&B.
Since then, Klugh has recorded smooth-jazz collaborations, pop-jazz, solo outings and traditional jazz.
With "The Spice of Life," Klugh delivers 13 mellow tracks in settings ranging from solo to trio to lush orchestration. The infectiously melodic "Driftin' " is already getting heavy airplay. On the "heavier" side - if the term can even apply to Klugh - there's "Snap" and the funkier "Sleepyhead," all featuring Klugh's clean, sometimes pretty tone.
Don Sebesky's orchestral arrangements provide the perfect setting on five tracks, most notably "Canadian Sunset." Other standards include a reinvented "Bye Ya" and "C'est Si Bon."
Klugh's still got the touch, and his musical integrity is intact.
- Marvin Leon Lake
Earl Klugh: "the Spice of Life"
Rating: Go get it now
Tracks to download: "Driftin'," "Canadian Sunset," "Snap"
The bleach-blond singer whom tweens used to swoon over is now 21 and singing about love, sex and relationships on his third CD - a definite "departure" from his "Beautiful Soul" days.
I've been told by my 10-year-old that she and her friends no longer dig McCartney. It might be because they're too young to appreciate his honest and soulful transition to adult music personality with this 12-song set.
Although the heavy techno beat on "Leavin' " and "Rock You" might be too much for us older folks, some of the songs actually get your booty moving.
The introductions to "How Do You Sleep" and "My Baby" sound a lot alike, but the singable lyrics and soulful beats keep it interesting.
Other songs fall flat, like "Not Your Enemy," which sounds like a bad Broadway tune - you know, the ones that get sung after the lights go down and a dejected star tries to rise from the ashes.
You might also want to get this CD if you're interested in how a young singer remakes himself - trying to buck the odds when it comes to maintaining a place for himself in the biz.
- Toni Guagenti, The Pilot
Jesse McCartney: "Departure"
Rating: Borrow it from a friend
Tracks to download: "Leavin'," "Rock You," "Into Ya"
Twentysomething girl groups keep R&B music flooded with the boyfriend/girlfriend drama. Cherish picks up where '90s trios Blaque and 702 left off.
Its sophomore offering runs the relationship gamut without sliding around on slow and sappy chords. The lead single, "Killa," delves into the pains of dealing with a raggedy dude, but you'd never know. The rap offerings from Yung Joc make it suitable for the club. "Amnesia" is as slow as it gets. The ballad confronts the hardships of transitioning from an ex to a new love.
"Notice" finds the girls with a love interest, the rhythmic staccato keyboard chords sound like taps on the guy's door. "Before You Were My Man" pulls out the old best-friend card. Apparently, the current relationship came after a stint with the guy's best friend.
As with many of the songs, the sisters admit that the song is autobiographical. That always makes the best music.
- DeAnne M. Bradley, Link
Cherish: "the Truth"
Rating: Download a few tracks
Tracks to download: "Amnesia," "Notice," "Before You Were My Man"
It must be Marvin Gaye month.
First there was a new documentary on PBS. Now comes a two-DVD collectors' edition featuring two previously released videos: the documentary "What's Going On: The Life & Death of Marvin Gaye" and the concert film "Greatest Hits: Live in '76."
They offer a nice overview of Gaye's tragic yet fruitful life.
The documentary tells his story through re-enactments, archival footage and interviews with Gaye, family and friends, colleagues and contemporaries.
Warts and all are exposed, ranging from his troubled relationship with his father to drug addiction, and concert and television appearances.
Though he battled demons throughout his life, none of the turmoil comes across in his amazing performance, which was recorded in Amsterdam on his first European tour. An hour of hits and gems, including "I Heard It Through the Grapevine," "Pride & Joy" and "Let's Get It On," are brought to life.
Even in death, Marvin Gaye still has it going on.
- Jeff Maisey, Lifestyles Magazine
Marvin Gaye: "What's Going On: The Life & Death of Marvin Gaye/Greatest Hits: Live in 76
Rating: Go get it now
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