Skip to main content

James Vincent McMorrow

 147

James Vincent McMorrow 


 

James Vincent McMorrow

James was a drummer before switching to the lead-singer/song-writer role. Hailing from Dublin, Ireland- McMorrow started playing pubs & uploading his music to MySpace- all of which was well-received. For a taste of this time period, I would recommend the song "Like The River" which I believe best encapsulates this time period in McMorrow's early recording career. 2008 saw the release of The Sparrow and The Wolf E.P. After that, he held himself in a cabin to write songs, songs like "The Old Dark Machine," that would eventually become his 2011 debut album Early in the Morning. Think five-part harmony, acoustic guitars, and heart-wrenching & chillingly beautiful melodies. McMorrow would head to El Paso, TX and add some studio charm for his second album, 2014's Post Tropical. This was the album where I jumped on board as a fan and discovered this amazing Irish singer-songwriter. I was amazed by the beautiful vocals and melodies which captured a a beautiful kind-of sound; a pristine quiet. Post Tropical found McMorrow going from simple-guitar-folk to brighter arrangements, more electronic keyboards, & (my favorite) cymbals (CRASH)! And so much more: smooth harmonies! flourishing horns! Did I mention the crashing cymbals?! The strongest instrument, of course, is James' powerful & vibrant voice. 2016 brought his third album, We Move, which proved McMorrow's love (& debt) to the R&B and synth-pop world. Less than ten-months later he would release 2017's True Care, another ambitious, reverent record. An album so scatter-shot that you can't help but admire it. 2018 saw McMorrow welcoming the birth of his first child as well as releasing the single "Me And My Friends." His fifth album, 2021's Grapefruit Season, is set to be released Sept. 17th. McMorrow released the single "Paradise" in support of the project.  As awesome as avocados...

It's...

James Vincent McMorrow

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Billie Holiday

27 Billie Holiday Billie Holiday The first jazz singer to really incorporate blues & move peoples hearts, Billie is immortal. I didn't get into her with her traditional music but rather the 2007 album Remixed and Reimagined . Even through the chops & screws- one thing was unmistakable- that voice- so beautiful, so unique, so pure... She said she tried to sing like a horn & it's evident. She is one of the most accomplish vocal performers of all time. A half-a-century later & her style is still mimicked. Billie is as American as apple pie. In 1935 she was singing at the Apollo Theater. She hopped around labels- Columbia to Decca to Verve- until finding her home. She would battle personal problems (drug use & the like). She would pass away on July 17, 1959. Ella Fitzgerald, Louis Armstrong, Duke Ellington... there's certain artist that are almost as important to American history as they are to the progression of popular music itself. Billie is one of...

Grouper

 131 Grouper  Grouper Reverb. Echo. Effects. Acoustic. Droney. These are some words you could use to explain Grouper's earlier work. Grouper is the solo project of Liz Harris. Her first album was self-titled & self-released. Grouper's second album was 2006's Way Their Crept . There was something special about that mid-ought's droney-underwater sounding indie. Grouper would go on to release five (!) more albums before I came on board as a fan: 2006's Wide , 2007's Cover The Windows & The Walls , 2008's widely acclaimed Dragging a Dead Deer Up a Hill & 2011's double-album (but separately released) AIA: Dream Loss & AIA: Alien Observer ... just to be followed up by 2012's double album: Violent Replacement Part I and Violent Replacement Part II . It wasn't until Grouper's more structured-releases that I became a full fledged fan. It was with 2013's The Man Who Died In His Boat that I finally jumped on board as a full-fled...

Drake

84 Drake Drake It’s not everyday that a rapper comes along & breaks arecord for most Top Ten singles by an artist or band, a record held by The Beatles for 54 years. Drake released his first mixtape in 2006 but he first bust onto the scene (not including his acting career on Degrassi High ) with 2009’s timeless-single “ Best I Ever Had ,” which, with the help of its sexist (but still sexy) video , peaked at #2 on the Billboard Hot 100, not bad for a song off a   mixtape: 2009’s So Far Gone . With the unexpected success of the mixtape, the debut album 2010’s Thank MeLater quickly arrived. I didn’t jump on the band wagon until his second album, 2011’s Take Care , which, I will still argue is his best. It probably helps that the title track was produced by one of my favorite DJ’s, ( Jamie xx ). 2013 gave us Nothing Was The Same ,   which proved Drake could really spit bars. His lasting power could no longer be questioned. 2015 gave us If You’re Reading This It’s T...