I was feeling a little down as I was walking home today when by mere
chance I ran into – at a safe distance – a friend! With all this self-isolation
I had forgotten how good that feels.
Disc 1363 is…. In
the Throes
Artist:
John Moreland
Year of Release: 2013
What’s up with the
Cover?
Smart little fixer upper in up-and-coming part of old Innsmouth! Blessed with
original paint, and mostly unbroken windows. Large concrete emplacements
protect against mad car bombers. Neighbours (pictured) are so charming they
just spontaneously come over and sit on your stoop – you’ll be more than glad
to lend them a cup of sugar or a butcher knife. Hauntings of their previous
victims ensure this home is truly filled with character(s), day and night!
How I Came To Know
It: I
really liked Moreland’s 2020 release “LP5” so I decided to dig back through his
catalogue, and eventually made my way to “In the Throes”.
How It Stacks Up: I have three John Moreland albums, with
designs on a fourth (still digging for 2015’s “High On Tulsa Heat”). Of the
three I do have, “In the Throes” comes in at #2.
Ratings: 4 stars
When you’re feeling a little down John Moreland may be what you need, as
long as you’re ready for a good wallow. His music will make you feel like you’re
standing at a crossroads, not sure if you’re lost or just waiting for the devil
to show up and teach you guitar. Sorry about that strained metaphor, that Robert
Johnson sticks with you…
Anyway, Moreland is not a bluesman. He’s more of a country/folk storyteller,
armed with a sharp pen, an acoustic guitar, and a voice like a gravel mixer. Every
one of these elements is simple, pure and artfully delivered.
It all starts with that pen and Moreland’s talent for writing everyman
lyrics that express a tense combination of endurance and doubt. These are songs
for long stares into cold nights. Moreland is so good at making a few sparse,
carefully chosen words bite with truth that you not only forgive the simplicity
of it all, you welcome it.
Sometimes it manifests as an outward facing condemnation, as on “Nobody
Gives a Damn About Songs Anymore”:
“I heard truth is what songs are for
Nobody gives a damn about songs anymore.”
You can listen to this song and get angry about the state of music, or the
state of society in general. Maybe both. Moreland’s bite goes even deeper when
he internalizes his frustration. On “God’s Medicine” he laments:
“And I recall when I thought I had a plan
The sun and moon and stars seemed to slip right through my hands
But remember that failure is part of being alive
I guess I let it take away my pride
One too many times.”
This is music for quiet desperation, but also gives that frustration
voice. If you’re too damned tired to bitch, Moreland will do it for you on
songs like this.
Singing this kind of thing could come off as maudlin, but Moreland’s
vocals are rough-edged and real, and make you feel every word. It is the voice
of a big burly man with a heart full of tenderness. Strong, vulnerable, and
willing to talk about it.
The final ingredient is Moreland’s guitar, which he plays with a relaxed
picking style that sits down comfortably into each song. Sometimes it plays in
the background; a trusty companion to his singing. On songs like “Break My
Heart Sweetly” it is an equal partner, with notes hanging in the air
between lyrics, adding a bitter-sweet emotional undercurrent.
Reading all of this you might wonder why the hell you’d want to subject
yourself to this kind of thing. The answer is it is beautiful and inspiring,
even as you hear Moreland share a lot of doubts. And while he’s often filled
with homespun existential dread, he also imbues these songs with a sense of
hope. On “Gospel” he sings:
“I wanna set fear on fire and give dreaming a fair shot
And never give up whether anybody cares or not.”
Moreland isn’t saying he’s got the answers, but he’s not afraid to shout
the question into the void. As a listener, you get inexorably drawn into this
intensely personal journey. You come out the other side feeling calm, and even
a little sad, but also resolute and ready to keep putting one foot in front of
the other. And that’s the only way – short of making a deal with the devil –
that anyone ever got past a crossroads.
Best tracks: Nobody
Gives a Damn About Songs Anymore, Blacklist, Your Spell, Break My Heart Sweetly,
God’s Medicine, Gospel, Blues & Kudzu
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