When I was making my list, I realized that I've discovered quite a few bands by listening to their Daytrotter Sessions, including my #1 pick, Hurricane Bells. So now, every day, for the month of April, I will listen to a session of an artist I've never heard of before, and post the review. Some will be released that day; some will randomly be chosen from the past. Some will be awful; some will hopefully be astounding. Join me on this journey as I listen to a "Daytrotter a Day."
Daytrotter a Day #1: Neal Morgan (Released 04.01.13)
"No more ill-gotten gains," Neal Morgan begins his Daytrotter introduction. A bad sign that this is going to be a pretentious piece of garbage. And it is, for the most part. On "Father's Day / I Stand on a Roof," Morgan babbles about pine needles and his dog over drum loops before the song comes to an abrupt end after the line, "Some rich assholes from L.A. are putting in a house." "On Tour" has him continuing his strange poetry over a flurry of pre-recorded "dreams," "dreaming," and "dreamy." The final number, "The Evidence," is the best of the bunch, with Neal singing barbershop-style with himself, his voice reminiscent of Travis Morrison. Sadly, he even finds a way to ruin that, stopping the song's flow right in the middle to announce, "I should say this song is a response to Philip Guston and a painting he made in 1970." Sean Moeller's essay opens with the sentence, "The sense that Neal Morgan makes is all his own." Then he should keep it to himself.
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