Kevin Morby: Singing Saw ALBUM REVIEW

Kevin Morby was the bassist for the popular indie folk group Woods, whose repertoire includes everything from lo-fi folk to even a bit of afro-pop on their last album (an LP I might do a full review for). Also, that band is well known for a busy and consistent release schedule, so one has to wonder what kind of content, if any, would a single member have to share with the world that hasn't already been put to tape elsewhere? Well, as it turns out, while Woods is changing things up, Kevin Morby is staying in his comfort zone on his latest record, Singing Saw, and I can't blame him; he is very good at what he does.

To put it simply, Singing Saw takes elements from Nashville Skyline era Bob Dylan and crosses it with Leonard Cohen's crooning, with some nice modern production to tie it all together. In fact, Morby reminds me a lot of another folk revivalist: Kurt Vile. Both of these artists show their influences without shame, but manage to put their own stamp on these sounds, so as to not make them an unnecessary listen; in fact, Singing Saw is one of the finest records I've heard all year, and it is also one of the most solid folk albums to come along in a good while.

The album mixes in slower, more contemplative moments like the opener. "Cut Me Down" with more energetic cuts like "Dorothy", which is a fuzzy tune that, again, reminds me of a Kurt Vile tune, namely one from his Wakin' On A Pretty Daze LP. Another fantastic cut is the track "I Have Been To The Mountain" which really shows just how great of a bass player Kevin is.

There are also a couple of longer cuts, most notably the title track. This track really shows off Morby's Dylan influence with a long, linear narrative that feels like a dream. But simultaneously, the track features a very forlorned sound that calls to mind the early days of Leonard Cohen's career.

Singing Saw may not be the most inventive thing I've ever heard, but I can't deny that every track on here is worth listening to. Also, I'm just happy to have another great folk album to add to my collection.

8.5/10