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Morrow’s
music “Outside the lines” of Nashville sound On his latest independently released album, “Outside the Lines,” Houston native Cory Morrow proves to his listeners that he has the staying power of a great songwriter and musician. Morrow ventures in many directions, and further refines the sound he molded in his past two solo studio albums.
Released Feb.19, “Outside the Lines” debuted at No. 28 on the Billboard country charts, as reported by (www.corymorrow.com). This is an extremely respectable accomplishment for an album unsupported by a major record label, and goes to show that Morrow has a loyal and supportive fan base across the southern United States. The production of the album is very polished, a characteristic normally associated with the Nashville country sound, but in Morrow’s case, it is merely a result of refining his own sound to near perfection. The album’s sound is natural and relaxed, as though Morrow has settled into a style of music that he is comfortable with, and the songs do not project the appearance of him straining to be someone he is not. Morrow is at his most soulful and spiritual on the tracks “(Love Me) Like You Used To Do” and “In Spite of Spite.” Arguably the best two songs on the album, Morrow sings the songs as though each word has a special meaning to him. “In Spite of Spite” is vividly reflective of painful past experiences, and one can’t help but believe the singer has lived at least some of these situations more than once. The fourth track on the album is a cover of “Friend of the Devil,” by the Grateful Dead. This song stands as an example that Morrow’s music reaches far beyond the Texas bars and nightclubs that he sells out across the state. The ease with which Morrow performs this song makes people realize he is well versed in music genres stretching far beyond country. Generally best known for his popularity among college audiences, it seems no Morrow album would be complete without a drinking song. However, Morrow ventures beyond the raucous sing-along drinking songs of his past albums, and finds a much more contemplative perspective. In “Drinkin’ Alone,” Morrow tells the sorrowful tale of a man whose life has been consumed by whiskey; a story so well told it would lead the listener to believe it is a first-hand experience. Often in the shadow of nationally successful fellow songwriter Pat Green, Morrow makes a statement in “Outside the Lines” that says he’ll continue to make music on his own terms, whether the record company is with him or not. His continued perseverance has established him as a musician who won’t soon fall by the wayside, especially as long as he’s got such a large support base in a state the size of Texas. American
musical icon and fellow Texan Willie Nelson didn’t truly solidify
his sound until he returned to Texas and did things his own way.
Morrow skipped one step and decided he’d stay in Texas and
do things his own way from the very beginning.
Jeff Dennis |
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TCU Daily Skiff © 2002 |
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