Album Notes

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Man Outta Me was and is a precursor of things to come for Bumpkin. The album features acoustic guitar, layered vocals, and an occasional viola solo from D.B. Dooley. Bumpkin's good friend Ben Matulich contributes lyrically to "Pour Me Another Beer," "Hey Woman," and "Punchin' Out."

Bumpkin was born in the 1970's in Houston, Texas. The best Christmas present he ever received was a portable record player from his uncle David. From that record player Bumpkin developed his passion for music as he listened to his uncle's old 45's. He played violin in high school, then switched primarily to acoustic guitar in college. Musical influences/idols include Al Stewart, Dwight Yoakam, and Pink Floyd. He believes that I See Hawks in LA (based out of Los Angeles) is one of the most underrated bands in America.

Reviews of Man Outta Me.....

Man Outta Me... (self released) First off I want to say I really liked this CD. I have no idea how to categorize the music, but I like it. This is the first release by the Irving TX enigma known as Bumpkin. This is what I call DIY at it's best. Recorded at Bumpkin's home studio with just him on guitar and vocals with David Dooley on viola. He seems to be most strongly influenced by Neil Young or similarly unique artists who pave their own road despite the latest trends. As rough as this music is, it would be right at home on AAA and alt-country radio. Bumpkin!! Get in touch with me. I know some stations here in NE Ohio where you'd fit right in! Well done. (Freight Train Boogie)


Well, here's a review by George Ford of Delusions of Adequacy, a popular underground music review site. This is by no means a ringing endorsement of my music (and I told him so). Nonetheless, I believe upon retrospection he does have a good handle on the strengths and weaknesses of my first batch of songs....

Man Outta Me...(self-released) Bumpkin is an artist who's true to his vision, and if that vision seems blurry, that's because Bumpkin is very, very drunk. At least that's what he would have us believe on Man Outta Me, a straightforward album of 12 paint-by-numbers breakup songs, and he's quite convincing.

There is no indication of what Bumpkin's real name is, and since I'm a terrible journalist, I still haven't found it out from any other source. But he recorded Man Outta Me with violist David Dooley accompanying his own guitar and echoing, multi-tracked vocals. The viola is a welcome touch, especially considering that Bumpkin's technique as a guitarist is limited to nothing more complicated than simple strumming.

Bumpkin reveals himself to be something of a one-trick pony. Each song bemoans the loss of his girl and the gain of his alcohol dependency, as the mood shifts back and forth between wistfully nostalgic and petulantly defiant. The sentiment is so up front and unadorned that lines like, "Pour me another beer, I really want one," are frankly redundant. You want another beer? You're kidding!

Then again, there is a long and proud history of Breakup and Booze music in the American songbook. What the dean of that academy, Hank Williams, knew was that the songs had to be good to drink along to. Make them funny or make them swing, but make them something. What Bumpkin has with this record is the outline of a good breakup album. He's got the themes down, but they're still a little thin.

--George Ford 9/8/2004--



Update: 01/27/06

Bumpkin appreciates indiehighway.com for its inclusion of "Pour Me Another Beer" (Fool's Day) into its exclusive mp3 catalog.


03/24/06

Bumpkin thanks Mike Kissell at mixposure.com for featuring "Good Old Days" from Fool's Day in the Country Spotlight for the week ending March 25th.


02/25/07

Bumpkin's 7 track ep was derailed in 2006 for various reasons which will be published in Bumpkin: Portrait of an Artist, Bumpkin's biography, sheduled for release in February, 2036. It has now been changed to a 9 song cd. So finally, such songs as Early Morning Masturbation and Nowhere to Go (Bumpkin's only good songs recorded last year, available for listening at www.garageband.com/bumpkin) will be available on cd this summer. Bumpkin gives no exact date of release, because he doesn't like breaking promises all the time. Other songs will range in topic from very crazy wives to wayward girlfriends to a song about Seasonal Affective Disorder. Of course, drinking will be a topic as well. What is a Bumpkin release without talk about drinking?