Early In The Morning by James Vincent McMorrow

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It was middle of the night while I was blog hopping while listening to some random albums that I had just downloaded few days ago. Out of sudden, a calming voice with its mournful tunes of music chilled my spines. It had been long that a song actually gave me goosebumps. Nonetheless, it was James Vincent McMorrow with his ever haunting voice. By the way, the song is “Follow you down to the red oak tree”. A very beautiful, calming and haunting track. Mournful in a way but not depressive.

Ireland! The country that has been producing some of the most remarkable singers for the world to hear. James Vincent McMorrow is officially one of them. I like to think that McMorrow is kind of a fill up for the dry spell of Damien Rice. Yet again, McMorrow do not make you feel like hanging yourself. McMorrow music is lighter and cheerful than Damien Rice dark and depressive tunes.

Early In The Morning, is a dreamy, calming and smooth folk pop album. Something like Bon Iver or Iron and Wine kind of music. But it is a little bit dark tone than Bon Iver and warmth than Iron and Wine. I also found that the way McMorrow sings actually reminds me of Bret Dennen. For the lack of vocabulary to describe it just go and listen their songs.

The opening track “If I had a boat” should manage to give the listener an idea of how the album is going to sound like. Boat is upbeat yet gentle in a way that it offered warmth and softness. Drifting in between the line of folksy ballad and pop. A deadly combination. Boat is absolutely amazing. 

"Hear the things that moves so soft and slow” a mouthful for song titles don’t you thinks? But just like the song title goes, the harmony of this track is gorgeous. The banjo rifting with McMorrow smokey-almost-non-existent vocal; the track is hypnotizing. “Sparrow and the Wolf” is all about folk music. There is no doubt about that. Period. An upbeat tunes, again a combination of folk and pop.

“Breaking heart” obviously this song sings about the lost love and that he had been in this sorrowful time far too long. A love that never reciprocated. “Cause I have been breaking heart far too long", loving you far too long” The lyric just keep on repeating itself like far too long.

“We Don’t Eat” was driven by pianos. One of them was very distinctive as it only has one tone throughout the whole song. The song is kind of dark, all hopes had lost. Drifting aimlessly, desperately finding a way to dock yet at the same time screaming whether all these effort are worth it. Perhaps give up would be a better choice.

“This Old Dark Machine” might be the peppiest song in the whole album. I just can’t help but to snap my finger and move my shoulders while listening to this song. “Follow You Down to the Red Oak Tree” like I mentioned earlier. It was one of the highlight of the album. The melodies and the slurred vocals of McMorrow just complement each other perfectly. One of the best tracks of the year.

“Down the Burning Ropes” definitely brings out the best of McMorrow singing techniques. He was simply amazing in this song. His talent is undeniable. If one does, he/she should be stoned to death. No kidding!

“From the Woods” somehow for this song I have this character in my mind. He is kind of like a hunter, hunting for bears as the song suggested it. But it was more like a symbolic thing. It is more like love than a bear to me. However, just like a wild bear, love is never tame. It is a wild thing. He tried to tamed it and succeed but with a price. “I taste the sulfur on my breath, I see the blood pool on the step. The moon so thick, the wounds so fresh. And all is well....”

“And If My Heart Should Somehow Stop” as the song title suggest this is a love song. A hide and seek love I think. Not so blunt by saying “I love you” right smack at the face. Where the fun of this? The song is more like “I love you. Do you know that? No, you don’t notice it do you? Well, I love you and I will be here waiting for you.”

“Early in the morning, I’ll come calling” The perfect track to end this album. The identical title does give a vibe of completeness. It was a very folksy track. The banjo was so significant and fresh.

Early in The Morning by James Vincent McMorrow is truly one of the finest albums I have listened this year. The album is so fluid to listen to. Flawless. One of the best albums in years to come.