Posted
9:16 PM
by sport
Sorry for blog lag. Sport Murphy has not been in the best state of mind these recent days, and has opted to spare you the play-by-play. But anyway, for those unable to find UNCUT or unwilling to pay for it, here's Jim Allen's very kind commentary from the current issue.
**** Crafty tunesmith puts Bruce Springsteen in his place.
Stunningly varied, vibrant and well-crafted, this sonic eulogy to the firefighter nephew that Murphy lost in the 9/11 tragedy has roots in everything from Hoagy Carmichael to Brian Wilson, and is the true heir to the mercurial genius of Pet Sounds (Van Dyke Parks himself lends a hand). Murphy's deep, sad voice moves through a harmonically sophisticated landscape, like Mark Eitzel crooning the Rufus Wainwright songbook. With a sense of humour yet! Murphy is a skewed pop visionary to be reckoned with.