Written by Daniel Boyer, posted by blog admin
Hearts in Need of Repair is the third album from
Minneapolis singer/songwriter Sarah Morris and is a more than worthy follow up
to 2013’s Ordinary Things. She brings a variety of instrumental voices to bear
on the album’s eleven songs courtesy of many musicians who’ve contributed to
earlier efforts and this consistency of sound from one release to the next
gives her discography an unity few of her contemporaries can boast. Despite the
instrumental diversity, Hearts in Need of Repair clearly embraces classic
elements of both country and folk music while never sounding like the
equivalent of a butterfly trapped under glass. These songs, instead, are
gloriously alive and practically ache with sensitivity. Hearts in Need of
Repair will likely enjoy the same level of success as Morris’ earlier efforts,
but it goes more than a step beyond in terms of quality and will certainly
elevate her already high standing.
If she released nothing but the title song from this
album, it would likely make the same impression. It’s that good and perfectly understandable
why she chose to lead off the album with the song. There’s a handful of
interesting musical decisions powering the song, especially how the tempo
changes from the verses into the chorus, that helps give it added spin it might
otherwise miss. “Good at Goodbye” is another high point on the album and
reaches those lofty heights without ever apparently exerting itself much. The
lyric is among the best on Hearts in Need of Repair thanks to two key strengths
– the wealth of detail in the song makes it a more intense listening experience
and the direct chorus makes an impact as well. The bluesy elegance of “Falling
Over” is substantive window dressing for a song that delves deep into personal
experience but makes it resonate for all listeners and the addition of slide
guitar makes it all the more passionate. “Course Correction” cops some of the
musical feel from the opening cut and mixes it up with an exceptional conversational
lyric that sparkles with genuine poetic value. The breezy, emotive vocal Morris
provides the song deftly handles the changing tempos.
“Empty Seat” is one of the album’s truly
breathtaking moments as all the finest elements from the other ten songs find
their greatest refinement and a near flawless expression both musically and
lyrically. This will be an undoubted peak for many listeners and it’s difficult
to imagine anyone with an appreciation for fine songwriting stepping away from
a performance of this track anything less than completely impressed. She shows
a real flair for taking the common feelings of love songs and giving them
profound intimacy redeeming any of their formulaic elements. “Nothing Compares”
is the best example of this on Hearts in Need of Repair and the palpable
meaning she invests the lyric with will impress even the most jaded music fans.
“On a Stone” has some of the same spartan beauty we hear with the
aforementioned musical track, but there’s less conversational poetry driving
the lyrics in favor of strong imagery. Sarah Morris’ third album is more than
just her best yet – it’s a paradigm shift for the artist that promises
everything from this point on will follow the same glittering upward
trajectory.
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