In late 2020, Kevin Morby holed up in the then-quiet Peabody hotel in Memphis to escape a pandemic-burdened winter in his hometown of Kansas City. There, he wrote This Is a Photograph, a folky, left-of-the-dial rock album and a particularly reflective entry in his catalogue. Its sound is sometimes earthy and gospel-inflected, sometimes lush and symphonic, with lyrics tinted by existential reflection and the spectre of death. The sinewy title track was inspired by family photos that Morby and his mother went through after thinking they’d just seen his father die following an accidental double dose of heart medication. The lived-in duet “Bittersweet, TN”, about the loss of a friend, features vocals by Erin Rae and floats along on its banjo lines. And the sparse but upbeat “Goodbye To Good Times” doesn’t offer any resolution, but instead presents a eulogy for better days as the songwriter strums his acoustic guitar, simultaneously nostalgic and grounded in the difficult present.
Tracklisting
- This Is A Photograph
- A Random Act Of Kindness
- Bittersweet, TN
- Disappearing
- A Coat Of Butterflies
- Rock Bottom
- Five Easy Pieces
- Stop Before I Cry
- It’s Over
- Goodbye To Good Times
Apple Music
Videos
Kevin Morby - This is a Photograph (Official Video)
More Videos
- Kevin Morby - A Random Act Of Kindness (Official Video)
- Kevin Morby - Rock Bottom (Official Video)
- It’s Over
Release Images
Release Information
Key | Value |
---|---|
Wikipedia URL | https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/This_Is_a_Photograph |
Format | Vinyl LP Album Limited Edition (Gold Nugget) |
Label | Dead Oceans |
Catalog Number | DOC316 |
Notes | Limited edition pressed on ‘gold nugget’ vinyl. Includes a printed inner sleeve, a fold-out set of photos, and a download code. Rear sticker: Made In Canada A small amount of autographed copies were made available through Newbury Comics. © & ℗ 2022 Dead Oceans, Inc. Engineering […] at Slow Fawn in Accord, NY Additional Recording […] at Sam Phillips Recording in Memphis, TN Additional Engineering […] in New York, NY Mixed and Mastered […] at Isokon in Kingston, NY |
Discogs URL | Kevin Morby - This Is A Photograph |