Grace Morrison Saltwater Country
Grace Morrison has a new album just released, Saltwater Country, which was produced by Jon Evans (Tori Amos). Lots of country Americana folk blended music arises from and pays homage to Southern and Western legacies and landscapes, and the mountains have their share of influence and appearances too. But it’s not as often that coastal lands get their due attention, and even rarer for the cape cod area in particular to be drawn into the musical canon and wound into the tales of Americana; at least until now, when Grace Morrison brings them onstage and weaves them throughout her whole album. The breezes, the cranberry bogs, the growing pains tied to the area are presented in relatable, appealing and sometimes starkly riveting images over music that’s rockin’ and upbeat country folk in style.
On “Cranberry Blossoms” the harmonies are bright and the song is a fresh take on family heritage as an ode to her grandfather’s legacy, and the times she worked with him “in the cranberry blossoms, my grandfather’s hands, he’d work all day and sleep real good, he was a solitary man,” and there was even a chance of snakes down there in the ditches. It has a solid country energy, the upbeat good kind with the close vocal harmonies.
On the title track, there are more grooves and electric melodies and it really kicks: “don’t make sense to me everybody walks by with a smile, we are the salt of the earth, we are as real as the smile on your face.” On “Just a Kid on Parkwood Drive,” which is the first of three co-writes with Jackson Emmer on the album, the awkward imagery of the teen years with Tiger Beat all over your walls, and the nostalgia here is gripping and palpable and it’s good songwriting. The details dance with universal feelings. “Heartbreak Hell” is another co-write with Jackson and it’s uptempo and rockin’ with smart twists on heartbreaks and being attracted to all the wrong choices.
Later in the album is “Poor Man’s Daughter.” This song is mic drop good. It could have been the album opener and would easily have pulled people in for keeps. Growing up poor leaves indelible marks and scars as the fears of losing security are real and translated to the kids internally, and Grace really pierces through on this one. “Poverty is in my bones,” and it’s indelible.
“Only A Man” was co-written by Grace with Jeff Plankenhorn and carries advice to leave someone who’s not right and to realize they are only a human being, just a man after all: “wish that she had known it in her bones, just because you’ve got four walls it don’t mean that you’re home, you don’t have to take it, you could up and run away…. he’s only a man at the end of the day.” Grace is joined by Jeff Plankenhorn on dobro and lap steel guitars. This is another centerpiece song of this album that could have been placed earlier in the rotation for its allure and spellbinding energy.
“Who’s Raising Who” starts out with the resolve that comes when a child is born: “I’m going to be a better parent than my mom was….” This song features upbeat playing over insightful observations on how raising a child isn’t as simple as we may have thought it would be going in. And that’s for sure.
Grace is known and respected in songwriters’s circles and has co-written with Lori McKenna, and now with Jackson Emmer and Jeff Plankenhorn to sediment her distinction. These songs are deeply insightful and wrapped in upbeat “snap your fingers” country and rootsy rock styles. The coastal energies, the sea and the beaches are carried through the imagery of family life, growing up, working hard, getting out, looking back, and raising kids of your own. Tune in and enjoy the experience.
Find tour dates dates and more here on her website: https://www.gracemorrison.com
Enjoy our previous coverage here: Video Premiere: Grace Morrison “Just Loving You” co-write w/Lori McKenna
Musicians on the album are Grace Morrison on vocals, acoustic guitar, piano and accordion; Jon Evans on background vocals, bass, percussion, guitars, and B3 organ; Jeff Plankenhorn on lap steel, dobro and acoustic lap steel.
The album was produced, recorded and mixed by Jon Evans (Sarah McLaughlin, Tori Amos) at Brick Hill Studio and mastered by John Mailloux. There are three co-writes with Jackson Emmer on the album: “Just A Kid on Parkwood Drive,” “Heartbreak Hill” and “Who’s raising Who,” and one with Jeff Plankenhorn (“Only A Man”).
