Rob Morsberger - A Part Of You

Rob Morsberger - A Part Of You
2012, Hieroglyph Records

Rob Morsberger is the sort of guy who makes things happen musically.  A singer, songwriter and composer, Morsberger’s work has been featured on PBS’ NOVAScience/NOW, Frontline and Masterpiece Theater.  As a sideman, he’s worked with My Morning Jacket, Patti Smith, Crash Test Dummies, Loudon Wainwright III, Marshall Crenshaw, Willie Nile and others.  But it’s Morsberger’s solo work that’s most intriguing.  His previous albums have been a mix of eclectic and literate pop songs with hooks impale your ears and drag you along for the ride.  Morsberger recently released two new albums, one of which we are reviewing today.  A Part Of You is written from the perspective of a father diagnosed with terminal brain cancer for his young son; an attempt to leave a lasting message and gift to see him through his growing up years.

It would be easy to see such a work in terms of darkness, but while living in a valley of shadows, Morsberger projects light on A Part Of You.  The album opens with the contemplative and beautiful "This Isn't Kindness", exploring the human struggle to differentiate charity from love. It is a song of thanks and a teaching moment from father to son. "The Russian Cartographer" is an adept allegory for Morsberger's own live, swapping out an artist who maps people and emotions in song for a Man who delineates boundaries and landmarks for others to follow. It's a beautiful biograph in song with some deeply personal connections.

"An Inside Place" is deeply reminiscent at times of Sting's songwriting on The Soul Cages. The sense of being trapped within oneself transforms into an urgent need to be heard done up in Baroque pop undertones. The transition is vital, and in its own elemental way, beautiful. "The Man And The Birds" is a powerful take on overcoming death. As Death himself looks on, birds come down and lift a man out of his reach. The spiritual allegory between birds and angels is unmistakable, and the imagery has a sort of classical beauty. Brad Roberts adds his distinctive baritone voice here in duet to create an amazing split between light and darkness.

"Maydianne" finds Morsberger taking a break from deeper reflections for a love story told in song. If the Beatles ever wrote in a classical romanticism hue it might sound a lot like this. Issues of spirituality, art and legacy are in play in "Jacob Wrestles With An Angel". Morsberger's path to discovery here is fraught with more questions than answers, reflecting an incredibly real negotiation to find meaning in the fleeting valley between birth and death.

"Cancer Road" is a hauntingly beautiful exploration of life's sometimes surprising curves. The piano- driven arrangement is simple and full if peace, as perspective puts understanding in its proper place. Morsberger is at his most powerful in "A Part Of You", a live song from father to son. The heavily orchestrated arrangement is the perfect complement, as Morsberger creates an eternal greeting in place of words of parting.

"A Good Laugh" is painted against an eccentric and unsettled arrangement seemingly representing the chaos of life. In it, Morsberger reminds listeners that the greatest tragedy of all is not learning to laugh at life. He makes this point by including the infectious laughter of his son Elan. If this doesn't bring a smile to your face then you've forgotten how to listen. A Part Of You closes with "You Son", a sweet love ballad from father to son that is personal and universal all at once.

Rob Morsberger continues to grow as an artist, and in the act of A Part Of You has crafted his most affecting and personal work to date. Informed by the tragedy of a death foretold, Morsberger finds the vitality of life in the love of his son. You might liken his efforts to turning lemons into lemonade, but with A Part Of You Morsberger comes much closer to turning water into wine. A Part Of You is nothing less than a Wildy's World Certified Desert Island Disc.

Rating: 5 Stars (Out of 5)

Learn more at www.robmorsberger.com. 

Review: Crash Test Dummies - Ooh La La!

Crash Test Dummies - Ooh La La!
2010, Deep Fried Records

It’s 1989 in a Country and Western bar in Manitoba. It’s here that the seeds of Crash Test Dummies were born. Brad Roberts, Ellen Reid, Benjamin Darvil, Dan Roberts and Mitch Dorge came together to form one of the most successful Canadian bands of the 1990’s. The musicianship of the band was always top notch, but it’s the distinctive voice of Brad Roberts that has been the calling card of Crash Test Dummies over the years. Darvil, Dorge and Roberts have all moved in and out of the regular lineup in recent years, but Roberts’ distinctive voice and songwriting style continues to drive the band. On May 11, 2010, Crash Test Dummies return with their first album of new material since 2004. Ooh La La! marks a major departure for Crash Test Dummies, with Brad Roberts actually writing an album that sounds happy.

Ooh La La! opens with “Songbird”, a highly orchestrated game of word or phrase association. The arrangement here is gorgeous, and Roberts delivers it in that unforgettable voice of his. “You Said You’d Meet Me (In California)” is and mooning and oddly psychedelic song that’s essentially happy in tone. The instrumentation here is mildly discordant, reflecting perhaps a discomfort with the happiness that pervades the album or trouble beneath the surface. “And It’s Beautiful” extrapolates from love the beauty of the world and of the people in Roberts’ circle; a happy daydream with a melody that will stick around your head and set up camp. On “Paralyzed”, Roberts gets retrospective, covering the utter loss of self that can follow the end of a relationship. It’s a particularly poignant tune; with more brain and heart you’re likely to find in your average pop/rock tune.

One of the highlights of the album is “Not Today Baby”, a wonderful tune written from the perspective of the eternal bachelor. While the reality of love has softened the edges a bit, the essential craftiness and sexuality that has run through Roberts’ recent work is present in this delicious arrangement. In “Heart Of Stone”, the same eternal bachelor finally gets bitten by love. The song explores the dichotomy of wanting love and wishing he could block it out. Even as he utters the wish he knows it will never happen. “Heart Of Stone” jumps forward to offer the perspective of time and happiness, but that desire to wander never leaves even if he’ll never act on it. “What I’m Famous For” continues the Crash Test Dummies’ tradition of songs about individuals with a real dark side; squatter’s rights and an ill-defined threat spark this humorous alt-country-noir tune. Crash Test Dummies go big band on “Now You See Her”; a quirky little tune about an uncatchable girl. This is the most surprising entry on Ooh La La!, and perhaps one of the best. “Now You See Her” is wonderfully quirky, with a playful feel that is entirely charming. Ooh La La! bows with “Put A Face”, the lone lead vocal for the exquisite Ellen Reid. It’s an artist’s rumination on capturing moments, please or places in song. While this song is specific to music, it could apply to most any artist/media.

Over the years Crash Test Dummies have been prone to experimentation. Sometimes it’s gone well (Songs Of The Unforgiven); others have not been so well received (Give Yourself A Hand). This time out, Roberts and producer Stewart Lerman (Antony And The Johnsons, The Roches) played around with the Optigan (the 1970’s version of a digital sampler) in the process of writing the album. Brad Roberts as a happy and (essentially) well-adjusted person is going to surprise a lot of long-time Crash Test Dummies fans. Roberts hasn’t entirely lost his dark side, but Ooh La La! might be the brightest overall tone to a Crash Test Dummies record since The Ghosts That Haunt Me (1991). From a pure songwriting perspective, Ooh La La! doesn’t have the edge of prior material, but its solid-to-plus throughout with a couple of moments of brilliance thrown in along the way. Two songs could perhaps have been left on the floor, but Ooh La La! is a nice step back into the limelight for Crash Test Dummies.

Rating: 3.5 Stars (Out of 5)

Learn more about Crash Test Dummies at http://www.crashtestdummies.com/. Ooh La La! drops on May 11, 2010. You can pre-order the CD from Amazon.com. Expect digital availability through all major outlets.

Review: Scott Cook - This One's On The House

Scott Cook - This One's On The House
2009, Scott Cook

Scott Cook calls the road home, but Edmonton is a home base if anyplace is. Cook left his job as a kindergarten teacher in Taiwan nearly three years ago and has spent the time since on the road playing his music and living out of his van. Cook's debut album, i(2007) made the college radio Top-10 in Canada and has kept Cook in gigs ever since. Cook's latest, i, expands Cook's range to include Country, Soul and Roots music, and muses on his time on the road as well as the human element of love, loss and recovery. The album features contributions from many of the bright lights of the Edmonton music scene and is likely to introduce Cook to a slew of new listeners.

Cook opens This One's On The House with "Carving Stone", a paean to the temporary nature of life on the road, whether it be work, leisure, relationships, or the road itself. The song is presented in the style of a classic country ballad, full of melancholy grace and a gritty world view. The whole thing turns into a wonderful musical parable, as a sort of virtual cycle of life plays itself out throughout the song. "This One's On The House (The Hobo Song)", details the philosophy that goes with living at the leisure of the world around you. Cook shows himself to be a deft poet with an ability to deliver his songs in easy-on-the-ears musical arrangements that owe their lineage to the likes of Johnny Cash, Merle Haggard and Charlie Pride.

Cook's "Ramblin' Kind", which sounds like it should be a Folk/Country classic, is an original tune that at the very least should see Cook covered by artists in both genres. Cook pulls back on the Country influences here for a more straight forward sound, allowing the simple beauty of the song to shine through. "If It Won't Break Your Heart" is part contemplative ballad and part Slow Jam, like Brad Roberts singing Isaac Hayes. It's a rather intriguing tune, defying classification even as it skates familiar fault lines between styles. "Day After Tomorrow" is pure contemplation, rumination on the facts and philosophies of war from the perspective of one thoughtful soldier who has more questions than answers. The song is reflective in its clarity and thoughtful in its beauty. Cook closes with the bluesy "This Old World's Got It's Secrets To Keep", an ode to the constancy of the mysteries of life. Cook expresses the gritty determination and understanding of one who has always lived by the currents of the world ("Don't ask yourself if you want to die on the road. Just ask yourself if this is the world you want to die on"). It's a brilliant close to an album steeped in the wit and wisdom of one who has built his life around the highways and byways of the world.

This One's On The House establishes Scott Cook as one of the better traditional-style Country singer/songwriters working in Nashville or otherwise. Cook still lives the lifestyle of a road-warrior, speaking with a grit and authenticity that is rarely captured anymore, much less lived. Scott Cook doesn't hit on every tune on This One's On The House, but when he does hit it's pure magic.

Rating: 4 Stars (Out of 5)

You can learn more about Scott Cook at http://www.scottcook.net/ or www.myspace.com/grooverevival. You can purchase This One's On The House as either a CD or DVD from CDBaby.com.