Kevin Morby is razor sharp in his songwriting, focus, instrumentation, and craft on his new album. It successfully meets the mark at every level.
More often than not, concept albums are over-analyzed by the music press. They can be over the top in terms of instrumentation, lyricism or theatrics, or the artist is simply unable to withstand the planned concept and successfully make it intriguing enough the entire time. Oh My God, Kevin Morby's fifth studio album, is not one of these records. Morby's latest is focused on the concepts of spiritual belief, religion, looking up to a higher being, etc. Though not a religious man himself, Morby brings his view and tells stories on how people commonly interpret religion on this record. Oh My God is razor sharp in his songwriting, focus, instrumentation, and craft. What makes this concept album so great is not just his lyricism, but its usage of soul and folk instrumentation mixed with old school gospel music. The entire record is rich and gorgeous in production and sound, while being both articulate and experimental in the process. Morby brings his Bob Dylan-like delivery once again, often repeating lines like "please forgive me," "oh my lord, come carry me home," and even the album's title. This can be a major turnoff for some listeners, maybe acting like a cheap cop-out to repeat certain lines or melodies throughout the record. To me though, these repeated lines only enhance the record, its concept, and the story Morby's aiming to tell.
Songs like the album's opening title track really set you in for what's to come: Kevin Morby's wilding voice, traditional piano keys, heavenly choir vocals, melodic hooks, rich saxophone. As an opener, Morby sets you up for the album's richly soulful instrumentation. "No Halo," the album's groovier single, is smooth, smoky soul with handclaps throughout. Morby states that he certainly has been no angel in his life, starting off with his childhood. "Nothing Sacred / All Things Wild" has Morby listing off everything that is bitter, sinful, and nothing on Earth being sacred over lush backing vocals and a calm synth. "OMG Rock and Roll" is the heavier, faster-paced guitar rocker on the record, having Morby repeating these lines I mentioned earlier, lines of traditional gospel lyricism. The most enthralling song on the record, Morby has an old school rock and roll tune that unexpectedly shifts into a gorgeous, choir sung ballad, while keeping the same lyrics and tone throughout, as if this change never happened. The chillingly beautiful choir vocals over the piano makes it one of the best moments on the record. "Hail Mary" is a lovely classic folk rock song at heart, with acoustic guitar strumming over saloon piano, peppy drums and horns.
"Piss River" is a moody ballad of with heavenly harp plucks, nocturnal keys, and backing vocals chanting the album's title. He sings about his love of his mother, the odd and nonchalant process of prayer as a kid. "Congratulations" is an explosive ballad with horns, darts of keys, and many different people praying to be forgiven. "I Want to Be Clean," one of my favorite acoustic ballads, has Morby telling the story of a woman wanting to be completely washed out of sin, not being mean or having to break anyone's hearts anymore. "Sing a Glad Song," another acoustic highlight, recalls people commonly singing a happy, bright hymnal to make people feel better from depressed times. The short, saxophone-led "Ballad of Faye" instrumental leads to "Oh Behold," a skeletal piano closer that gently washes down the listener to its opener.
Already being a standout singer-songwriter, Kevin Morby has reached to a higher level of talent and mastery on Oh My God. Better songs, lyrics, craft, amazing instrumentation. A truly excellent album experience, Morby's concept of religion and belief is very successful beyond any expectations I had prior to its release. Morby's conceptual process may seem very surface level to those who are more religious, but it certainly goes through the common practices and stereotypical actions of religions really well. This album will turn people off due to its lack of stylistic and lyrical variation. But to my ears, Oh My God raises Kevin Morby onto a much higher status of talent and craft, maturity and songwriting ability for people to hopefully take more seriously for the long haul. Oh My God is too great of an album for people to pass up on.
Rating: 8 / 10
Favorite Songs: "OMG Rock and Roll," "No Halo," "I Want to Be Clean," "Hail Mary," "Oh My God"
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