self release
12 songs time – 35:13
Here is Austin Jimmy Murphy’s latest endeavor, Part Two, that is almost completely him and acoustic guitar. I reviewed Part One that featured a band. The El Pasoan is adept at fingerpicking and slide guitar. For me his vocalizing strikes me as rather dry. I tend to focus on the intricate guitaring. All compositions are by his hand.
“The Train Song” is one that was recorded when is young and his vocal was replaced by his grown up voice. Bass and snare drum were also added to his twelve-string acoustic. The vocal and guitar sprint along at a nice pace. He muses on sexual obsession on “Rip Them Chains”, a song helped along rhythmically by bass and snare drum once again. “Strollin’ Blues” is a mellow but short acoustic guitar instrumental.
More upbeat picking with “My Baby Gone And Left Me”. “Hello” is a jaunty feel good tune. Another toe-tapper is “My Baby Lives So Far From Me”. “Went Walkin’ With My Baby” is a bawdy electric guitar ditty. Stark slide guitar permeates the haunting “Killin’ Blues”. A tale of lost friends, “South Side of Blue”, renders a similar somber mood. A lonesome harmonica squall ends the song on an appropriate note. Named after his wife, “Margarita” is another lovely instrumental.
His acumen on fingerpicked electric guitar is aptly displayed on “Worried Blues”. Electric slide sends things off with the downer of “Almost Took My Life”.
There is much to enjoy here from Jimmy’s guitar skills, even if his voice is a bit of an acquired taste. He manages to channel the essence of the blues vibe without being a copycat. Damn, the guy can surely pick the begeezus out of his guitars.