- Ken Will Morton
In Rock 'N' Roll's Hands
Self Released
- By Mike Sheahan
 Every
now and then an album comes along out of nowhere and piques your
curiosity. You give it a few spins and decide (in your best
critic's voice) "Feels like I've heard this before but heck,
it ain't half bad." Then the damn thing stays in your stereo
for a month. In Rock 'N' Roll's Hands is just such a
disc.
Ken Will Morton is a veteran of the noisy rock wars who has now
found his solace playing alone with his guitar and, if you take
the album's title literally, has no hope or plan for any other
kind of future. He writes about lost loves, dead people and
friends who have gone their own way. But amongst these themes
of loss and regret Morton seems ready to keep plowing forward
no matter what's in store. In "Lesson In Dying Love"
he sings,
If I could begin my whole life again
I'm sure I'd still find my way to you
I've got no regrets
I'm just happy that I met you
Cause next time I'll know I'm just being a fool
If I fall in love with a girl like you
His belief in fate seems to contradict his ability to learn
from his past but, in Ken Morton's hands, such ideas live comfortably
side by side. It's murky water indeed, but Morton convinces
and is able sing about such things without sounding overwrought,
maudlin or, God forbid, cheesy.
Lyrical content aside, In Rock 'N' Rolls Hand's is the
best collection of guitar rock songs I've heard since Scott Miller's
2003 release Upside/Downside. Along with guitar, drums and
bass Morton adds just enough banjo, harmonica or keys to give
each tune its proper mood. Morton never knocks you over the
head with a heavy handed guitar solo or hyperventilation-inducing
turn on the harmonica. He doesn't need to; his subtlety is what
gives these songs their power.
The only exception to this is "The Day The Sun Never Came
Up." With it's straight-outta-Burlington jam band rhythms
and goofy lyrics about playing guitar underneath the moon, the
song is as out of place on this album as Ted Nugent at a PETA
convention.
In Rock 'N' Roll's Hands is a statement of defiance.
Armed with little more than his guitar and his words Morton
stands ready, with one eye on the past, to battle whatever the
world throws at him- three chords at a time. In his press kit,
Morton himself asks the question for you. "Foolish or genius?
I'll tell you when it's over." My vote is for the latter
and we would all do well to look in from time to time and see
how the fight's going.
www.kenwillmorton.com
Contact Mike Sheahan at sheahan-at-rockzilla.net
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