Sam Morrow (from the album On the Ride Here

Sam Morrow (from the album On the Ride Here

Sam Morrow (from the album On the Ride Here available on Blue Élan Records/Copaco Records) (by Lee Zimmerman)
 
Oftentimes the artists that are the hardest to characterize are the ones that prove the most intriguing. Sam Morrow could be considered one of those. Morrow refrains from complicating matters; far from it in fact. His songs are easily engaging and fueled by rugged rhythms, much like the Grateful Dead in a more melodic mode. With five albums to his credit, he mostly manages to streamline his sound even while incorporating elements of Blues, Country, Funk and other diverse Americana elements into his musical mix.
 
Having made his Grand Ole’ Opry debut late last year, Sam Morrow is clearly on an upward roll, a clear indication that the title On the Ride Here shares a certain significance. Produced by longtime collaborator, Copaco Records label chief and Grammy nominee Eric Corne, it receives some extra oomph from an impressive array of Left Coast talent, among them, guitarists Eli Wulfmeier and Eamon Ryland, bassists Ted Russell Kamp and Adam Arcos, keyboardist Sasha Smith, and drummers Matt Tecu and Butch Norton. Notably too, it’s the final piece of a musical trilogy that began with Concrete & Mud and continued with Gettin' By on Gettin' Down. Those two albums showcased different sides to Sam Morrow’s muse, and yet here, as before, this particular outing remains effortlessly engaging.
 
That said, the songs themselves don’t suggest anything that’s especially auspicious, other than offering an indication of Morrow’s current mood and mantra. “By Your Side”, “Medicine Man”, and “Searching for Paradise” each provide a euphemistic view of current circumstance, as well as a sound that’s effortless and unhurried in both the presentation and perspective.
 
Ultimately then, the meditative musings of “Straight and Narrow” more for less sum up the sentiment fostered throughout, a feeling that’s only slightly tempered by the determined drive and delivery shared in songs such as “More”, “Thunderbird Motel”, “Tighter”, “Hired Gun”, and “St. Peter” in particular. Still, any real hint of antagonism or aggression is negligible at best. As a result, On the Ride Here manages to provide its listeners with a generally agreeable journey. (by Lee Zimmerman)
 
Listen and buy the music of Sam Morrow from AMAZON
 
For more information, please visit the Sam Morrow website