inthe SPOTLight: MATT MORRIS

I feel I must start this 'review' with a disclaimer.

I LOVE MATT MORRIS.

I personally think he really is one that could literally sing the phone book and do no wrong. But that only means that when I'm truly 'moved' by him, it's all that more profound.

When I first heard Matt in 2005, I was already late for the party 'cause ''Unspoken'' had been released in 2003. I was listening for someone, anyone, that was singing from their soul, about subjects that truly mattered and when I heard "Eternity" from the opening lyric of that solo effort, I knew I had found my voice, ...my muse. The more I listened to that CD, the more I really started to believe that this man, and his voice were truly designed for a specific time and future place. Frustration set in when I saw his efforts to truly come to the forefront of the music industry stall time and time again. Not one to sit down on his laurels, Matt did the next best thing, he wrote for others. He gave his music to Christina Aguilera, Kelly Clarkson and Reba McEntire and he toured with The Indigo Girls and Joan Osborne, and best of all, he wrote for himself. He teased us with little viral videos that gave us snippets of those tunes in progress and he sang his heart out in showcases all over the states. And, he waited, for his moment. I'll not write about his pedigree, nor his famous friends 'cause one could think that because of them, he's 'here' now. No, Matt Morris has earned every accolade that's about to be bestowed upon him in advance for the years of dedication he's put into his craft. Being an accomplished musician (piano and guitar, and few others), he was literally a one man band on "Unspoken", so his fans have truly been 'waiting' to see just what would happen when his music would finally get the major label treatment. What has transpired has enhanced (if possible) an already abundantly gifted artist. This is so evident that I dare you to listen to "When Everything Breaks Open" and not be impressed by the sheer depth of songwriting, arrangements, instrumentation and vocals on this major label debut. If he feels like he's been around forever.., music this good comes 'through' an artist not 'from' them and your impression is accurate. Matt Morris has been around forever and his music and his place in the forefront of the industry is finally ready. It was worth the wait. Special thanks to the small army that's under-girded this effort. They're all credited appropriately in the liner notes, so do get the CD to experience this artist's grateful heart and musicality in totality.

DON'T YOU DARE: A sonic tour-de-force of ambient sounds create a bed of constant motion for this opening declaration. It's almost as if he's pleading with us, his audience, to not walk away just yet.., he's promising to give us everything he's got to give. I believe him.

MONEY and LOVE: This is one style of writing that I believe no one does better than Matt. Grooves with substance. You'll play these songs again and again, for their sheer buoyancy while at the same time, being amazed just at how 'deeply' he's captured our culture in the lyrics. That Hammond B3 and Bass is slamming in both, too. And, with Justin Timberlake and Edie Brickell respectively on backing vocals, well.., there you go.

BLOODLINE: Haunting, chilling and downright mystical. I love this tune, the lyrics will follow you, even on the first listen. Patty Griffin's vocal contribution makes it all the more special. Just a great, great song on many levels. This tune proves you can use this medium to change lives, give hope in darkness with truth that has the potential to melt the hardest of hearts. Those ending strings....!!

LIVE FOREVER: This might be a perfect Pop song. It starts out innocently, with voice then the guitar, then the harmonies.., and by the time the bass and drums drop, you're bobbing your head and tapping your foot and even singing along. On first listen! The CD title is hidden in this gem, so I believe he knew what he had written. Indeed, a perfect pop song.

THE UNAMERICAN: I've been waiting to read the lyrics to this one since it's release on his EP - Backstage at Bonnaroo and other Acoustic Performances, which included the first version of this tune. The creativeness of this pop song defies description. The time signature, the lyrics, the cacophony of instrumentation all work in harmony to take us on a dissident trip into our minds to question our own patriotism and just what it is that we bring to the table of discussion concerning our traditional biases especially as we point the finger at others we think are less patriotic for a variety of reasons and lifestyle choices.

LET IT GO: I've come to think of this tune as a wedding song for our present times. The tune is tender and is such a realization of honesty and forgiveness that it should be required listening for anyone who says they're falling 'out of love'. One listen to this lyric and you might discover more love where you thought none existed. Matt's playing piano here, which is my favorite instrument for his voice, and is reminiscent of his work on Unspoken. Beautiful.

YOU DO IT FOR ME: Funky and fun. I can see this tune truly finding it's audience in the live shows. It's a got banter, beat and butt shaking down to a science. It's got a Prince vibe to it, back from the New Power Generation days.

JUST BEFORE THE MORNING: A song about regrets.., when we all think of those loves that got away because of our own impatience or need to control our whole world. Matt sings it just behind the beat and you can feel the pull of his heart as he remembers the lost potential. Perfect backing vocals and Timberlake on keys totally compliment this poignant lyric and this tune perfectly flows into...

IN THIS HOUSE: I love that Matt makes us question our priorities in such melodic ways. This tune carries the previous theme, beyond the commitment when love turns to duty and under appreciated expectations. You'll love the horn, and later the vocal, breakdowns.., and if I were listening on an LP, I'll probably pick the needle up and start this one over a few times. Charlie Sexton is truly in the pocket on the Drums, too. Solid.

FORGIVENESS: Matt's using more of his baritone voice here and it's truly the perfect placement for this solemn lyric, with a touch of reggae/gospel in the mix. Backing vocals by Charlie Sexton and Justin T, makes this a song that you wish you experienced being recorded. It moves, shuffles along even, building momentum at every turn. Another perfectly restrained vocal delivery from Matt that truly showcases his understanding of exactly where to place a song in his register for maximum effect.

SOMEONE TO LOVE YOU: Okay, this was the tune I've been waiting to hear for more than a year now. To say my expectations were high is an understatement. Trust me, it was worth every painful moment of silence. This tune, I predict, once released will be a serious hit. It's got everything.., great lyrics, a killer piano, a man breaking his heart down with passion.., a waltz in 3/4 time for dancers on So You Think You Can Dance to interpret to their heart's desires. I mean, it's even got Timpani drums in it!! Magnificent. This is a journey into Matt's soul and hands down, my favorite.

ETERNITY: This was the tune I first heard that made me fall in love with this artist. He could have just put it on here for those that had never heard his independent release. But he's orchestrated it and breathe even new life into it and sang it with even more maturity and a depth of understanding that even improves on the original. The groove laids back a little more, and gives him time to truly explore the notes, bending them, caressing them and treating them with the respect they deserve. Stellar.

100,000 STRONG: This hidden gem is not listed in the song list. I'm gonna leave it to you to 'discover' on your on. I'm not being coy.., it's worthy of your own first impressions.

Please purchase the CD. Digital downloading is great.., but you need the liner notes, lyrics and musical credits to truly appreciate the efforts of an artist of this caliber.

You'll thank me later.

EDENintheDESERT

Albuquerque, NM

DESERTATIONS: THIS IS IT

There's the story that goes: ....A man and his son are standing in a cue.., a line, awaiting a future event and the son is impatient..., asking continually, 'What are we going to see ??!', ...'When is it going to happen???' Finally the father lovingly turned to the son and said, "THIS is IT."

Come now, you who say, "Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, and spend a year there and engage in business and make a profit." Yet you do not know what your life will be like tomorrow. You are just a vapor that appears for a little while and then vanishes away. Instead, you ought to say, "If the Lord wills, we will live and also do this or that." But as it is, you boast in your arrogance ; all such boasting is evil. Therefore, to one who knows the right thing to do and does not do it, to him it is sin." James 4:13-17

I just returned from a most prophetic evening. In part it was the viewing of Michael Jackson's last offering to the world, the rehearsal footage of the impending THIS IS IT Tour. I would have bet you before I left that this blog was going to be written through tears with pains of regret for all that Michael didn't get to do and for his life being cut so short, seemingly gone too soon. I know that's how I felt when I heard of his death. I cried something wicked as I viewed his funeral and the subsequent burial. But what I feel in this moment is nothing but joy. Joy for a life that was so profound, so meaningful and what he left behind as witnessed in this film should inspire us all to get up off our proverbial bee-hinds and go to work to heal our world, save our planet and love, love, LOVE our neighbors. If we think we're here just to procreate and not truly CREATE something lasting and beautiful with our God given talents, then Michael did die in vain.

You'll witness what Michael truly represented in it's purest form is hard work. The labor of love that he was pouring into that production was monumental in scope and depth. Images, vintage film, cutting edge CGI, the music, the dance, the vocals.., it was an undertaking that a lesser man wouldn't dare attempt, or have the legacy of music to build upon. He was in great form, so all the naysayers can return to their respective caves who never knew Michael but felt compelled to tell us all how weak and feeble a man he was. Whatever pains he supposedly had are non-existent in this footage. You'll see him dance.., get caught up in the spirit of his music.., you'll see him gently correct and teach and inspire by just being in the room. You'll see dancers who were pre-teens when he CREATED the moonwalk mesmerized to be so near the very one that inspired them to dance. Amazing.

I encourage us all to do more with our gifts and talents. This isn't new, I've blogged about this before. The urgency this time around is just a gentle nudging that THIS IS IT. THIS MOMENT is the only one we've been promised. EVERYthing else is wishful thinking. Viewing this documentary tonight wasn't the highlight to my day, however. This morning, I listened to all 39 of my previously recorded songs, uploaded the best 21 for free on a website, prepared a future release of a 26 song anthology called The EDEN Project that will soon be on all the major digital sites (second week of December) and started the concept for the next EP that will pave the way to a new sound and direction for me. I shared all of this in real time with a fellow musician and brother who was literally across the ocean from me in WALES, while at the same time stopping to pray for my spiritual brother in dental school in Denver for the intense workload he's adjusting to daily. And moments before I went into the theater, I decided to take a walk around the block only to meet a young man visiting Albuquerque for the next three weeks only and in short measure made a new friend and brother, who opened his heart to me as we both shared the experience of watching Michael perform. And none of this was promised to me when I awoke this morning.

See this is why I can't be sad, today. There's so much of life ahead and MJ is forever going to be apart of whatever I do from these days forward. In the assurance of that, he lives on.

I know those he shared his final days with feel that certainty even more.


THIS IS IT !!!

BeBLeSSeD,

EDENintheDESERT

DESERTATIONS: MICHAEL JACKSON

I don't know what I am going to say, but I felt that I needed to say something about the one and only artist that I actually had as a poster on my wall as a kid.

As much as I would like to say I was a fan, in fact is, I love the Jackson 5. Marlon was born the same year as me, making Michael our younger brother. I was sad when Jermaine chose to stay behind at Motown and marry the owner's daughter and abandon his brothers in their move to CBS Records. The last Motown release, 'Moving Violation' was one of their best release, 'till that debut on CBS with Style of Life, Blues Away... and 'LIVING TOGETHER'.., where I knew Michael was singing directly to Jermaine. It's hard to explain what it meant to see this 'family' of brothers and later sisters, live and work together. The tours, the saturday morning cartoon, the countless magazine covers.., all the fun they appeared to be having. Everyone wanted to be one of the Jacksons or at least be related to them.., and my sisters wanted to marry at least one of them every week! This one family gave us hope.., gave us joy and made us want to be them. As they matured, went their separate ways.., we all lost a little of the innocence along with them as we, too, matured and went through our share of troubles. Seeing little Michael soar beyond anyone's imagination was thrilling.., and terrifying 'cause you just know that when a star burns so fast and so long.., it has to be extinguished at some time. But, his star seemed to get a second life after weathering so many accusations, deserved or not, 'cause in the end, he was still standing and for that resilience, I applauded him. I remember sharing with someone who was planning on attending his shows in London that I just prayed he would get one last time to shine for so many who had counted him out, rather gleefully, just to remind us of his contribution to this artform. There's not a young band, certainly male pop star that hasn't been influenced by Michael or The Jackson 5. Don't even attempt to argue this point. For him to die of a broken heart, however induced, is exactly the ending he was destined for. When he sang, "I'll Be There", he made a promise and a pledge to a world that didn't even know who much they needed him. His songs are all over the airwaves again, and the number one downloads on all the music sites so in the end, he acheived what he set out to do..., to blanket the world in music again, his ultimate gift. I promise you, this music, the depth and breathe of it, will be analyzed for years to come. ONE MAN, ONE VOICE, changed the world as we would know it had he and his brothers not burst onto the world stage.

GOD BLESS Joe and Katherine Jackson for doing all you knew to do give your family a chance at success. I don't write to validate your choices, but to thank you for doing the best you could for the times we lived in then.

To HIM Whom much is given.., MUCH MORE is required, to live up to those gifts.
Did Michael do his best, all the time?

No, it's obvious he suffered, personally.., but musically, I find no fault in him.


REST, Little Brother Michael