Captured

Review

Armed with near-perfect hooks and a winsome voice (imagine a grittier Sheryl Crow), Murphy makes songs that sound timeless. -- DALLAS MORNING NEWS

Possessing a voice suggesting cheerleader youth with added rust, Murphy fashions an impressive melodic songbook bound around stories worth telling. -- MOJO (UK)

The gutsy way Murphy delivers a song reveals an emotional intensity that will serve her well in the long run. -- HOUSTON PRESS

Product Description

Trish Murphy waters her Texas roots in a stripped-down, live acoustic setting, doing what she does best: telling stories and shooting from the hip. Planted firmly between the simple Southern poetry of 'Crooked Mile' and the gritty pop of 'Rubies on the Lawn,' 'Captured' distills the essence of her singer-songwriter heritage and ripens it to pure melodic fullness. This record features new material along with some riveting acoustic versions of songs from her two previous studio albums.

About the Artist

It's fortunate record stores haven't taken all that "women in rock" hype seriously enough to create a separate section for female artists. Austin, Texas recording artist Trish Murphy would certainly be misfiled, having more in common with straight-shooters and storytellers like Tom Petty and Bruce Springsteen. In a musical climate dominated by female pop stars, she has staked out a niche with her songwriting that transcends predictability -- and gender. Trish Murphy's songs come from anywhere -- whether she's collaborating with the SWAT-team detective who lives next door ("St. Christopher"), other musicians like David Grissom ("Runaway Train"), or just reading the newspaper for inspiration ("The Trouble With Trouble"). Her style is undeniably American, reflecting the winding road of her musical influences and life experiences. She has a youthful, fencepost-rusty voice that doesn't do any fancy tricks but can rivet an audience with its capacity to carry emotions wrapped around beguiling melodies.
A Houston, Texas native, Ms. Murphy officially launched her music career by quitting her college job at The Wall Street Journal for a stint of local open-mic nights. Her father, a struggling musician and songwriter, taught his three children to sing background harmonies for him when they were preschoolers. Although he eventually had to take jobs in construction to make a living, the family kept its bohemian values. While she was working her way through school, her dad encouraged her to get gigs to support herself rather than pursue the proverbial something-to-fall-back-on. After receiving a B.A. in philosophy, she decided to fall back on music full-time.
Her discography includes three solo albums, two of which she recorded and released on her own label. Crooked Mile was released independently in April 1997 to widespread critical raves. National distribution soon followed, along with constant touring throughout the U.S. and Europe. Tour highlights included a week with Lilith Fair, spearheaded by Sarah McLachlan, and appearances on Mountain Stage and World Cafe. Her follow-up CD, Rubies on the Lawn (Doolittle/Mercury 1999), garnered national press, mainstream radio airplay and more international touring, including a return to the Lilith Fair in its final season. Captured, independently released in late 2001, finds Trish returning to her Texas roots in a stripped-down, live acoustic setting, doing what she does best: telling stories and shooting from the hip., ISBN13: B00005S6VD ISBN10: B00005S6VD Material Type: audioCD