Search - Blake Morgan :: Burning Daylight

A Brilliant Songwriter, Performer, and Producer

Jeffrey A. Lewonczyk | New York, NY | 08/15/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I had the pleasure of seeing Blake Morgan perform live for the first time last year - it was just him and a piano, and the number of spine-tingling moments in his relatively short set numbered in the dozens. Add to this the fact that he's a formidable producer as well, and you get BURNING DAYLIGHT, an album that amplifies his acoustic instincts to an electric level. The whole affair is smart, moving, nuanced, powerful, and, most importantly, rocktacular. Eleven tracks of solid gold dynamite!"

A Delicious Careen Down A Mountain of Rock

Michael Mclaughlin | New York | 08/15/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Listening to Burning Daylight for the first time gave me that exhilarating feeling that comes between that moment when you lose control of your snowboard and when you actually crash. The roaring guitar, the smashing drums, and Blake's own rumble-to-a-scream voice suspended me in that out-of-body, adrenal explosion that seems to extend forever and be over in a second, all at the same time. It's a towering, throbbing rush of an album; it's primary flaw is that it is too short.



I'm the sort of listener who gets hooked on repeat on my iTunes; Danger to Wake You plays over and over again in my song cycle. I find myself singing along with it to snap myself back when I feel lonely or complacent. And Better Angels is the soft landing I need when I get too strung out.



This album was my introduction to Blake Morgan's awesome guitar and heartsorm of lyrics. I can't wait to hear his next one.









"

THIS is music

C. Rosst | NYC USA | 08/22/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"A lot of people are raving about Morgan's "Maybe I'm Amazed" cover from iTunes, and deservedly so, he infuses the song with incredible energy, it's just about impossible to sit still while listening to it. But I think you need to listen to this album as a whole to get a true appreciation of what he can do (and he can do a lot). I'm totally blown away by this collection, it covers an incredible range of sounds and has so much to say. A lot of Beatles comparisons are being made, and they're fair; the influence and kinship are undeniable. Morgan places himself among the accomplished musical family with a direct lineage to that most important of bands, and echoes of other artists in that tree (Tears for Fears, Nirvana) can be found on Burning Daylight as well. Don't get me wrong, this is thoroughly contemporary, unique work which stands as its own, largely distininguished by the best of Morgan's many instruments, his tremendous voice, which runs the gamut from blowtorch scathing to compassionate consoling (sometimes within the space of one song). His singing is matched by the musicians he's surrounded himself, who cover everything from churning rockers to thoughtful reveries with almost frightening ease. This band can play (Jonathan Ellinghaus will remind you of what drumming should sound like), and Morgan ably utilizes their talents to help bring his tunes to life, adding shape and color to his dynamic songs. Just as important to me as the music however, is the message it contains/communicates. Morgan's lyrics are both straightforward and conflicted, accusing and self-critical, full of confidence and doubt. In other words, he's a lot like us, and you'll feel the universality of his words as he attempts to reconcile the conflict between expectation and disappointment, between coping with someone else's demons and choking down your own, between having to convince everyone you're right and not being sure yourself. But don't listen to me, listen to the songs. Put "Only Anesthesia" on your ipod workout playlist and feel it drive you to new heights/weights. Play "Danger to Wake You" in the morning and attempt not to hum the chorus for the rest of the day. Listen to "Better Angels" at the end of a bad night and know that you're not alone. Toss on "Right as Rain" after your next breakup and revel in your anger. Take a walk with "Sick for You" playing on a rainy fall afternoon and think of someone you miss. Listen to the songs. Get the album. You won't regret it."