Press

John Fullbright: Oklahoma kid hits big time — The Times of London (paywall)

New Band of the Day: John Fullbright — The Guardian

John Fullbright Lays Down His Roots — American Songwriter

Grammys 2013: John Fullbright’s From the Ground Up — The Los Angeles Times

John Fullbright Takes the Little Record That Could to the Grammys — CMT Edge

John Fullbright: All the Way From Okemah, Oklahoma — Maverick Magazine (.pdf, 160 kB)

“Young Master of Unbridled Americana” John Fullbright Receives ASCAP Foundation Lyric Award — ASCAP Foundation

John Fullbright a young master of Americana — The Boston Globe

The Promising Futures of a Disparate Pair — The Wall Street Journal

John Fullbright: The Man (And Album) Written in Oklahoma — NPR Weekend Edition

John Fullbright: Folk-rock straight outta Okemah — The Los Angeles Times

Read more SXSW 2012 reviews →

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“I have no doubt that in a very short time John Fullbright will be a household name in American music.” – Jimmy Webb

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I ran across a guy named John Fullbright from Oklahoma. I went down to the Continental Gallery last week, and Jon Dee was doing his thing in the Gallery …. and his friend that week was this kid from Oklahoma, who’s about 22. I only heard the last half of the last song. I could hear him from across the street, and I thought, “Man, that sounds like money to me.” A lot like Steve Earle – he’s got that same quality to his voice, only he enunciates better, writes really well. He can go places if he wants to. — James McMurtry

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“I’ve only heard a few songs, but it’s pretty clear that John Fullbright is one of the most talented young guns out there. Sometimes I think the art of songcraft – using characters, story, language, melody to create something lasting – is a vanishing art, practised only by old fogies like me. It’s good to see a 21-year-old stepping into this tradition and keeping it fresh and alive.” — Slaid Cleaves

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“It’s well put together. The vocals communicate wisdom and experience (Fullbright is 25 next month) and can be both gruff and tender. The performances convey the idea of the musician as an itinerant, a troubadour moving from town to town, soaking up the true spirit of America and its people. And the songs, whether rockers or ballads, are timeless in the sense that they could have been written at any point in the last 30 years, although super-attuned listeners might be able to discern essence-of-21st-century in the production, even at its least fancy and adorned (the album was co-produced with Wes Sharon, who has worked with Gregg Allman and Doobie Brothers).” — Paul Lester, The Guardian

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“…an extraordinary collection of surpassing depth and maturity. It’s just voice, guitar, the occasional harmonica and a whole bunch of words, each and every last one perfectly measured and placed.” — David Menconi, Raleigh News-Observer

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“It was hard for me to believe that this is his first studio album…. The record is a great mix of tunes and styles, but doesn’t just bounce around from one to the next. Songs flow from spiritual rockers written from the point of view of God himself, to slow, almost intimate piano ballads, to country folk songs and rockers that have you singing along before you realize that you haven’t even heard the song before. It sounds like he painstakingly put together this record. It’s not just a bunch of songs to download – it’s a record to listen to.” — Rob Henry, Cool Album of the Day

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“Looking at him, well, if truth be told, he doesn’t even look like he is old enough to know about any of this stuff. But don’t let that fool you…he knows it well. His voice is a revelation. His playing is eye opening on every instrument that he touches; guitar, harmonica, piano and accordion.” — Music Fog

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“No one who encounters Fullbright in person is likely to forget songs like “Jericho,” “Blameless” or “High Road,” all of which come close to Mickey Newbury excellence in lyrical brilliance… and close to Guthrie in raspy Okie Dust Bowl plaint. ” — William Michael Smith, Houston Press

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“First time seeing John and all I can say is you have got to be kidding me. I’m not sure how long its been since a new to me artist left me with my mouth on the floor. It’s been a couple of days and I still can’t believe how good this guy is.” — Live Music in Austin

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“It’s hard to compare Fullbright’s songwriting with anyone’s today. There’s real truth and sincerity to it that hasn’t been heard in years.” – KQBR, Lubbock

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“No need to beat about the bush, John Fullbright is a songwriter of simply extraordinary talent, who has produced a collection of songs that deserve to be heard across the planet.” — Naomi Koppel, Backroads