areuonsomething.com

 Coming Home Kenn Morr
 CD Review by Dr. Philip Lombard / 4/2006

Track listing
1. Coming Home 2. Cold Winds 3. In The Name of Rock & Roll 4. Baby It's Me
5. Twister 6. Daylight Come Again 7. Last Tear 8. Mesa Moon 9. Carry Some Lovin'
10. Freedom 11. Holdin' On

On Kenn Morr's first two collections he teamed with talented producers, but on "Coming Home," this multi-talented artist decided to produce the album himself. The result has a lucid honesty that is refreshing and long overdue.

Morr has created an atmospheric CD about a man's search for himself. It's a collection of personal songs; not just about the singer/songwriter, but also about us all. This album asks many questions which lead to the ultimate question: What is our purpose? It is a musical journey well worth taking. In the end, the artist discovers he's "got no time for worry/too much time is dead" and "the morning sky reminds him that God is out there somewhere." How do you put Kenn Morr's distinct vocal sound into words? Well, think of an American Donovan blended with the soft whispering sound of Don Williams.

The album kicks off with the title track "Coming Home," which opens with a haunting guitar and lovely flowing female harmonies. It's reminiscent of a mid-70's laid-back Eric Clapton tune with a lyric that includes "When we say goodbye I die inside." It doesn't get any more honest than that. "Mesa Moon" sneaks up on you and is complex in it's simplicity. This tune features a very subtle Johnny Cash-type rhythm, which drives the guitar and violin. It's the most country flavored tune on the CD and is the gem of the album. It finds the troubadour out on the endless highway once again and features perfect harmonies that drift over Karen Nolan's violin. Listen to the ladies nail the word&My - i - ind &at the end before the picking guitar fade. If this is any indication of Mr. Morr's ability to write a great country song, then let's hope that someday he'll record a complete album of country music.

Another prize is "In The Name of Rock And Roll." A great title for a wonderful tune that sounds like Dire Straits Unplugged. It features the weaved sound of organ, drums and violin over and under Morr's whispering, talking blues vocal. It's a tune for anyone who's ever plugged in an electric guitar in an attempt to keep rock and roll alive. I'd love to hear Bob Dylan cut this great example of Morr's unique writing.

On "Baby It's Me," the musical mood is elevated. It's the next morning, our hero wakes up and begins to pick up the pieces but realizes that it all begins and ends with him. The melody is gentle on the mind and weaves it's way into your consciousness. The line "Down and out ain't where I want to be" says it all.

On "Cold Winds," Morr's production technique shines through with the crisp sound of violin and guitar that ease you into a flowing feel of the old west the story of a man who "Got the word and it wasn't good." It's a tune about traveling on with a broken spirit and features a tasty harmonica break plus harmony vocals shared with Rex Fowler.

There are six additional tracks which make up a sensitive reflective CD that is a gift to the ears and senses in these troubling times. To purchase a copy contact the artist at www.kennmoor.com