Album Review: Kevin Morby - Oh My God

Apparently Kevin Morby went into the studio and recorded this album two years ago, before he released his last record, City Music. It sounds quite different to that album, and different to his breakthrough album Singing Saw as well. What came out of those studio sessions is a concept album of sorts, one that is tied into the theme of religion, by someone who states that he’s not in the slightest religious.

With that in mind, it’s an interesting set of songs that explore the place, role and ramifications of religion, both at a personal and societal level. He leverages gospel music, angelic choirs and rhythm tracks built on handclaps, weaving them into his folk-flavoured indie-rock. Morby’s ability to sound like a pastoral balladeer one minute and a street-wise poet the next is on full display as the songs unravel. At his best he’s a fine and convincing blend of Dylan, Reed and Cohen.

He’s got a clever way with lyrics too. “Do you want to play chess inside my chest?” he sings on Piss River and on Savannah he follows the line, “Sometimes I let my silence become the conversation,” with an abrupt pause to emphasise the point. The arrangements on Oh My God are a real delight, often sparse, with warm-sounding organ, piano or jangly guitar and regular enhancement by lonely horn accompaniment. There are glorious interruptions of '50s doo-wop (Congratulations) and Velvet Underground/Bowie chug (OMG Rock n Roll), but the overwhelming mood is more reflective and gently interrogative than those exceptions.

Across Oh My God Morby plays with and eloquently investigates religion with equal amounts of respect and irreverence while placing his songs in artful and evocative musical settings.