"There’s a lot of rocker, some cowboy, some folkie, and some Nashville country in him, showcased in the Jayhakws-ish 'Long Way Down.' And he is not shy about taking a sharp left in the middle of a song ('Fuddydud'). The effect is surprising, sometimes jarring, but Morton makes such detours work without turning them into MacGuffins." -Vintage Guitar
"Blessed with a voice that crosses somewhere between the whine of Bob Dylan, the passion of Bruce Springsteen and the angst of Paul Westerberg, Ken Will Morton’s gravitation towards rootsy singer-songwriter stuff is fitting. His background is more gritty—power pop by-the-way-of-punk in bands like Wonderlust, the Indicators and the Redeemers—but Kickin’ Out the Rungs only briefly nods to that style on ' Am the Wheel' and the sturdy rock of 'Gamblin’ Man’s Blues.' Instead, the new album leans heavily on spare, finger-picked songs with a country vibe and a lonely spirit. Whether it’s the encouraging earnestness of 'Don’t Feel Bad For Cryin’,' the bleak confessional of 'My Only Conviction' or the casual strum of 'Fuddydud,' Morton’s earthy delivery and wry observations make this disc a winner in a very crowded field."
-Georgia Music Magazine
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MORE REVIEWS!
Ken Will Morton
Kickin’ Out The Rungs
Devil in Me
Rara Avis
It’s hard for any artist to squeeze out one good album, much less two at once. It’s significant that Ken Will Morton hits more than he misses on these simultaneously released, but separately packaged, disks. Devil In Me covers his harder, WhiteStripes-type rocking side while Kickin’ Out the Rungs is more (but not exclusively) acoustic-guitar based. Neither dispels any notion that, growing up, this guy must have been a handful for his parents. If the choice was between putting him on Ritalin and buying him a guitar it seems they made the right choice to go with the guitar.
There’s not much conventional about Morton. An effective singer, his voice is apparently gig-worn. As a guitarist he is inventive and original and does a good job of expressing himself without depending on (recognizably) standard riffs. This works very well on Devil. There’s a definite air of self-exorcism when he cracks off lick after high-intensity lick. Like David Gilmour, or maybe even more like Neil Young, Morton is able to communicate his emotional state of mind through his almost anarchistic approach to the guitar. Playing, singing, or songwriting, Morton goes undeterred- and undistracted- where he wants to, and usually he gets there with the listener following willingly.
Rungs may be the more accessible of the two disks. Morton is neither tuneless nor anti-melodic, but his songs seldom end up where they started and he’s not much for hooks, which separates him from similar artists like, well… nobody. There’s a lot of rocker, some cowboy, some folkie, and some Nashville country in him, showcased in the Jayhakws-ish “Long Way Down.” And he is not shy about taking a sharp left in the middle of a song (“Fuddydud”). The effect is surprising, sometimes jarring, but Morton makes such detours work without turning them into MacGuffins.
Both discs feature all-original Morton compositions save for “That’s All Behind Me Now,” a highlight on Rungs co-written with Kristen Hall of the more traditional and significantly less provocative Sugarland. -RA -----------------
July/ August 2008
KEN WILL MORTON Devil in Me / Kickin’ Out the Rungs (RARA AVIS) ***
Ken Will Morton didn’t want to choose between ripping fiery solos on electric guitar and having his battered-but-tough-skinned working-man’s song, lyrics clearly heard this time, so he didn’t – he made room for both. Kickin Out the Rungs is an acoustic-based affair, with Morton’s scruffy, nasal slurring front and center, while Devil in Me is his guitar catharsis – 11 tracks ratcheted up with driving, boogying verve, volume and lyrics packed in a little less densely. Both albums (together they make four for Morton) treat the exploits of a hard-living soul (drinking, gambling etc.), but Morton’s characters boast about them on Devil and come damn close to apologizing for the on Kickin’. Or, if not apologizing, the country-rock romp “Get My Head Right” at least talks about trying to get it together. All told, Morton did a good thing by indulging his dual love of songs and soloing. – JEWLY HIGHT
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May 2008
One thing you can’t accuse Athens-based rocker/singer/songwriter Ken Will Morton of is being lazy. On April 8, he released two CDs (the acoustic-driven Kickin’ Out The Rungs and the flat-out electric Devil In Me) simultaneously, while, according to his bio, recording yet another album of material to be released on the Sojourn label. When does the man have time to sleep? Sleeping, actually, does not seem to be one of Morton’s chief concerns; instead he is seemingly consumed with writing, recording and performing his music and the quality of his commitment can be heard on the 21 tracks on these two CDs. Most of the songs on the quieter Kickin’ Out The Rungs feature Morton’s songs backed by acoustic guitar, bass, drums, a spare electric guitar and an uncredited better-than-average harmonica player. The melodies are generally memorable and the lyrics are introspective and thought provoking, especially with the stanout track, “That’s All Behind Me Now,” co-written by songwriter extraordinaire and ex-Sugarlander Kristen Hall.
Morton’s sometimes thin and nasally voice, perhaps his only weakness, occasionally comes through too strong on Kickin’..., but seems very well suited to the electric attack of Devil In Me. Recorded in his basement, Morton and his band The Wholly Ghosts confidently rock their way through 11 Westerbergian rockers with highlights being the leadoff title track and the slightly Americana-tinged “Still Look Pretty.”
Whether presented in a quieter or louder setting, Ken Will Morton’s music seems best suited to listening while swigging a beer or two with friends or strangers destined to be friends, and these two CDs are the perfect introduction to this talented musician whom you will undoubtedly want to number amongst your friends as well. (Self-released)
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Spring 2008
Ken Will Morton - Kickin' Out the Rungs
Blessed with a voice that crosses somewhere between the whine of Bob Dylan, the passion of Bruce Springsteen and the angst of Paul Westerberg, Ken Will Morton's gravitation towards rootsy singer-songwriter stuff is fitting. His background is more gritty-power pop by-the-way-of-punk in bands like Wonderlust, the Indicators and the Redeemers-but Kickin' Out the Rungs only briefly nods to that style on "I Am the Wheel" and the sturdy rock of "Gamblin' Man's Blues." Instead, the new album leans heavily on spare, finger-picked songs with a country vibe and a lonely spirit. Whether it's the encouraging earnestness of "Don't Feel Bad For Cryin'," the bleak confessional of "My Only Conviction" or the casual strum of "Fuddydud," Morton's earthy delivery and wry observations make this disc a winner in a very crowded field. - JOHN DAVIDSON
