Early in the Morning
James Vincent McMorrow · 2010
65 min · 16 tracks · folk music
Ethereal folk melodies intertwine with introspective lyrics, creating a haunting yet serene atmosphere throughout the album.
Top tracks — play these first
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We Don't Eat — This track exemplifies McMorrow's ability to blend poignant storytelling with minimalist instrumentation, creating an emotional resonance that captures listeners' attention.
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If I Had a Boat — With its vivid imagery and gentle melody, this song illustrates McMorrow's lyrical prowess and serves as an inviting introduction to his musical style.
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Sparrow & The Wolf — The haunting arrangement combined with reflective lyrics showcases McMorrow's unique sound and thematic depth, making it a standout track on the album.
Elevation
Our rating, out of 100 — and why.
AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.
The album blends folk and soul with introspective lyrics, creating a distinct yet cohesive sound.
What we noticed
- The first half of the album features a consistent use of layered vocal harmonies, while the second half introduces more instrumental variation.
- Several tracks utilize a minimalist arrangement, often featuring just guitar and voice, which emphasizes the lyrical content.
- The album closes with two versions of 'We Are Ghosts', one being an acoustic rendition that strips back the production.
- Composition 25% of the score
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7/10
- Craft 20% of the score
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6/10
- Durability 25% of the score
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6/10
- Distinctiveness 18% of the score
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7/10
- Sequencing 12% of the score
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5/10
the writing — melody, harmony, structure, lyrics
production, performance, arrangement
whether it rewards returning to it
whether it sounds like itself
running order, pacing, length
Known within its scene. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.
Is this for you?
Good fit if you like
- steady pacing for reflective moments
- haunting vocals for deep introspection
- consistent flow invites full engagement
- gentle melodies for quiet evenings
- two-halves structure for focused listening
Maybe skip if you
- seeks upbeat, fast-paced tracks
- prefers standalone singles over cohesion
Where this album fits
- Career context
- Released in 2010, Early in the Morning marked James Vincent McMorrow's debut album, introducing his distinct blend of folk and soul to the music scene. Before this, he was relatively unknown, having transitioned from a career in music production to become a singer-songwriter. This album set the stage for his subsequent artistic trajectory, establishing him as a compelling voice in contemporary Irish music.
- Stylistic neighbors
- Sufjan Stevens· Bon Iver· Iron & Wine
Tracklist
Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.
Disc 1
- 1 If I Had a Boat 4:08
- 2 Hear That Noise That Moves So Soft and Low 4:02
- 3 Sparrow & The Wolf 3:43
- 4 Breaking Hearts 4:52
- 5 We Don't Eat 4:56
- 6 This Old Dark Machine 4:17
- 7 Follow You Down to the Red Oak Tree 3:29
- 8 Down the Burning Ropes 5:02
- 9 From the Woods! 4:00
- 10 And If My Heart Should Somehow Stop 4:36
- 11 Early in the Morning, I'll Come Calling 2:39
- 12 We Are Ghosts 3:35
Disc 2
- 1 Higher Love 3:36
- 2 Wicked Game (Recorded Live At St. Canice Cathedral, Kilkenny) 4:34
- 3 We Don't Eat (Acoustic Version) 4:02
- 4 We Are Ghosts 3:34
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
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