Mac's Musical Musings
James Vincent McMorrow - Post Tropical (2014)
With a rustic brown beard, an acoustic guitar, and a falsetto that makes the birds jealous, Irishman James Vincent McMorrow is the stereotypical Starbucks customer; he’s also a pretty good musician. His debut album, Early in the Morning, is well equipped with banjo (of course) and was written in isolation in a cabin somewhere out in the boons of Ireland (dat folk though). It was a great album, you should go get it. However, January 14th of this year saw McMorrow practically reinvent himself, making a dramatic transition from ‘folk’ to pop/R&B as he released Post Tropical. Where the soft and gentle brush of nickel strings once existed, now a soft yet compelling keyboard dominates the gorgeous landscape that is James Vincent McMorrow’s voice. His masterful lyrical ability will pierce your very being, as if it were a javelin of gleaming bronze thrown by Achilles himself. Music critic Kyle Kramer really hits the nail on the head when he explains that “the lyrics are heartbreaking, especially as McMorrow lets the feeling of loneliness crescendo over the swirling piano.” It’s hard for me to sum up McMorrow’s music any better: “loneliness” and “swirling” really take the cake. Crowning the pyramid of perfection is the fact that McMorrow’s lyrics and producing are all self-done. Yet despite the loneliness, the heartbreak, the swirling, and the bronze javelins, his music is good and hence listening to it is assuredly a wise decision. |
Mac's Musical Musings is brought to you each months by the musical genius and understanding of Mac Wallace. Check it out for your monthly music insider!
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