“The album closer is the Red Dirt alt-country Sword And Saddle, the title underscoring its early Guy Clark-like anthemic assured guitar chords driven swagger, a strong and infectious end to an album that both marks the end of McClure’s past and the bright direction of his future.”
FOLK RADIO UK
“Newfound optimism is reflected throughout the record, beginning with “I Am Not Broken,” an anthem that finds McClure singing the title with the utmost confidence as he refuses to let his past define him…Whatever might be left of McClure’s time, one thing is certain: As long as Orion — and whatever else — continues to guide him, he will remain a pioneer in the landscape of Red Dirt and alternative country for decades to come.”
NO DEPRESSION
“Vulnerability and authenticity always play a role in elevating a good album to a great one, and Looking Up is no exception to that rule. He pulls back the curtains on his own life, walking the line of imparting wisdom without being sanctimonious – and recognizing the help he had along the way – as the songs themselves grapple with these changes in sonically varied ways, sparking interest while still existing as a reflective, haunting, and cohesive whole.”
RAISED ROWDY
“Introspection is found across Looking Up. For a recently sober guy trying to navigate his way through a landmine-filled 2020, McClure has successfully boiled life down to what he needs and poured the distractions away. “Sword and Saddle” finds McClure catching up to the man he feels he can be – “Remember that if I’m not dead/Then I’m gaining on the life I should/Have led.” … bolstered by excellent guitar solos from McClure – a stand-out feature on the album. “
AMERICANA HIGHWAYS
“Little Bit Of Love” and “Sword And Saddle” exit the listen, where the former benefits from expressive storytelling as haunting strings and soothing vocals from Lawrence add much to the appeal, and the latter builds into a slightly more forceful execution of McClure’s stunning prowess that’s guided his massive arsenal of music.”
TAKE EFFECT
Over the course of this interview, Mike discusses how this album, Looking Up, is different from all the others… filled more with introspective and reflective. During this interview, Mike and Thomas talk about recording Looking Up in early 2020, how yoga & gardening have helped his songwriting process, and how setting down the distractions of social media can help you focus and actually connect to truth. They cover his early days with The Great Divide, running from their legacy, Lloyd Maines, producing albums, and how becoming a mentor for young singer-songwriters has been rewarding and necessary.
“Any history book written about the Red Dirt and Texas Music scene would undoubtedly have a chapter dedicated to McClure and his influence on those who have followed him. McClure is set to release his next project September 25 and he seems genuinely excited about what he has put together. “It's about finding that truth and love really are worth fighting for. And what can save us,” McClure says of his upcoming record “Looking Up.”
The Co-Write Podcast
