Customer Reviews

Morells

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I discovered The Skeletons in the early 90's and just fell in love with their music. They are one of the best bands to see live in the Mid-American region. Their Waiting album is one of the best of the 90's. Sadly, they haven't been back to my hometown since 93 and I sure do miss them.

The Skeletons have reunited as "The Morells" and the same energy and fun that made The Skeletons so good are here!! The self-titled album has a more "blues" and "country-western" influence and less of the "Beach Boys" sound found on Waiting, but that doesn't make it a bad album. Within minutes, you will be singing the songs and replaying the album again.

Simple lyrics, catchy tunes and just raw power make this album a must have

The Morells -- spiritual godparents of the whole Americana movement -- have returned with a wonderful CD highlighting the same mix of rock, country, R&B and general goofiness that made their 1982 album "Shake and Push" an instant classic. Their encyclopedic knowledge of the forgotten songs brings us gems like "Rock Bottom" and "Roy's Blues," and two songs written by Springfield, Missouri neighbor Ronnie Self, "Home in My Hand" and "Hair of the Dog." Even in the four songs just mentioned the band covers it all, from swing-pop to instrumentals to reggae-tinged country (!). Combine this with their air-tight instrumentation and Lou Whitney's spotless production and you have an album you'll be keeping.

I've seen the Morells live half a dozen times. Their first LP, "Shake and Push," which they put out about 20 years ago, is one of my favorite records. Donnie Thompson and Lou Whitney have produced some great work over the years. So, I bought this album with a strong bias in its favor.

The first and second times I listened to it, I was unimpressed. But this album grows on you. Give it a shot. You may not think it's one of the top 50 albums of all time, but I believe once you've listened to it a few times, you'll think well of it -- and you'll pull it out every so often to play it again.

National Public Radio did a feature on the Morells and this album, and excerpted one of the songs, "Mom's Got A Headache." That song isn't one of my favorites. I would recommend "Double Crossin' Liquor" and "I'm A Hog For You, Baby" for starters.

Some of the information in the previous reviews may be unintentionally misleading. Thompson and Whitney, who are at the heart of the Morells' lineup, have recorded with a number of bands in the last 20 years. They've played as the Skeletons and the Park Central Squares. They've backed up a number of other musicians, e.g. Grammy winner Dave Alvin. Whitney is a top-flight record producer. And Thompson is a helluva guitar player, one of the best I've ever heard.

If you like the Old 97s, Whiskeytown or Uncle Tupelo, I'll wager you'll like this record too. Buy it for no other reason than you'll be supporting the sort of band that we don't hear enough of any more.

The Morells are an (inter)national treasure. Their timeless knack for knocking oot primo r&r is unsurpassed. Anybody who
says different deserves Ryan Adams fair and square.

having seen them over 60 times in one year the first time around i guess i am a big fan. this release keeps up with the fine tradition established with shake and push and the skeleton releases, good , fun slightly subverted party music. if they don't put a smile on your face and your toes a tapping, then you don't deserve them.

I heard a review on Public Radio of this cd. It is even more fun then they suggested. "Moma's got a headache" sets the speed of a 12 song set that mixes alittle of everything. While it is not the stuff i regularly listen to, play it when you need a lift or just want to have some fun. All music should be this good.

how do you beat the best bar music album of all time?

The Morells' eponymous second CD comes nearly 20 years after their stupefyingly great debut, "Shake and Push". Not that Thompson and Whitney have been idle during that time. Since then they have toured with Steve Forbert and Dave Alvin and performed consistently as The Skeletons and The Park Central Squares as well as The Morells.

But about this CD: Thompson and Whitney have created another CD full of obscure covers taken from the arcane vaults of R&B and early rock music along with a single original. The covers, though obscure, are masterfully chosen, ranging from the Ronnie Self classics "Hair of the Dog" and "Home In My Hand" to a little ditty called "Mom's Got a Headache" and the straight-ahead blues of Roy Buchanan's "Roy's Blues". The one original, "Don't Let Your Baby Buy a Car", is a twisted little country number written by the always funny Lou Whitney.

The Morells are a good-time bar band. No more, no less. But in the world of good-time bar bands, they don't get any better. The only real way to experience the Morells is in a live setting, but this comes in a close second. Take home the best band you've never heard of.

This is a fun band that probably sounds better live than on a CD (not that this isn't a bad outing). This is driving music, or sitting out on the back porch drinking music. Very enjoyable

This album rocks hard, swings hard, and is a tremendous amount of fun. D. Clinton Thompson's guitar work drives virtually every song with an amazing amalgam of jazz, rockabilly and country stylings- truly an original and one of the unsung great pickers of all time. High energy American music delivered with a hint of a smirk. This is the album that captures the essence of the great live shows these guys have produced for the last 20 years in their various incarnations. Buy it now!

Lou Whitney is a rock god, and this album proves it. On this self-titled album, Whitney comes together with several other amazing musicians to put out a cream-in-your-pants mix of amazing songs. If you enjoy this CD, which I'm positive you will, check out one of Whitney's new projects, The Rugs. It can be said that Lou Whitney has the Midas Touch of producing, but for one difference: he strokes, he doesn't touch. And also, the music that undergoes the infamous Whitney Stroke turns to platinum, not gold.