Singing Saw

A decent album. One song reminds me of Dylan another of Lou Reed.

good CD and good service

Read about this album in Uncut Mag can not recommend it enough.

fantastic bad .. love listening

The best thing heard this year..

It took quite awhile to get into Kevin Morby, but I persisted simply because I rate the opinion of the person that recommended him to me. One reason it took awhile is the fact that he initially appears to be doing quite a funny Dylan impression. There are also Dylan references in some of his songs, and for a Dylan fan like me, this is likely to be very annoying. However, I also noticed a nod to Gene Clark in this album's lovelorn, summer evening settings, and in the final song Water's resemblance to Life's Greatest Fool. I also began to warm to his voice, and the kind of awkward delivery the songs have as a result of it, as well as the lovely little flourishes in his music, like the piano on Drunk And On A Star. As for originality, I don't think Kevin Morby is the most original artist in history and I wouldn't expect him to be. The way that music history is marketed, idolised, endlessly poured over and listed by the media and the music business, it's unsurprising that most new artists seem to wear their influences on their sleeve. I also don't think Bob Dylan came out of nowhere - he, initially at least, also wore his influences on his sleeve (or, in the case of his coffeehouse setlists, on his arm or guitar). He then became an artist so original that he seemingly influenced almost everyone that followed him - clearly including Kevin Morby. Great.

The music magazine Uncut has given Kevin Morby's new album "Singing Saw" a 9/10 in its ratings. It begs the question is this justified? The former member of the alternative folk band Woods is now on his 3rd solo album. It was recorded in Woodstock home of Dylan and the Band. It's safe to say that the ghosts of Danko and Helm must be smiling. "Singing Saw" is an album which reminds this reviewer of Mercury Rev's "Deserters Songs". The music is different (although the use of saws as instruments is a common reference) but like that album it has come from nowhere. "Singing Saw" has a timeless quality with Morby's Dylan infected vocals anchoring the myriad of sounds and moods.It starts with the languid "Cut me down" setting out Morby's aim that he is ”Looking for a fire/I’m looking to burn”. It is followed by an album highlight "I Have Been to the Mountain" which is possibly the best Kurt Vile song that the latter never wrote. It also contains distant echoes of the Clash's "Guns of Brixton". Download it as a taster for this wonderful album. The remainder of the record is punctuated with lengthy songs like the seven-minute-plus slow blues of the huge title track that are completely engrossing. Thus "Drunk And On a Star" brings back memories of Lou Reed at his absolute best as Morby persistently questions "Have you heard my guitar singing". The beds of strings underpinning this track are pitched perfectly. Every bit its equal is "Dorothy" which sounds like the Velvet Underground decided to have a pint with Leonard Cohen and mix it up. "Destroyer" alternatively is possibly the most straightforward song present and brings a sense of lightness to the album's second half. It all concludes with the spoken blues of "Water" where Morby performs his best Dylan impression which might have fitted like a glove on "Planet Waves""Singing Saw" is one of those albums which come from left field and you scratch your head in wonder how Morby has come up with this ethereally infused gem? On the lovely penultimate track "Black Flowers" you reflect that two decent solo albums to date never really pointed to this scale of significant achievement. If "Singing Saw" isn't a contender for one of the top five albums of 2016 a lawyers opinion should be sought. Recommended without qualification or hesitation.