For the past 40 years, singer, songwriter, producer and multi-instrumentalist Jeremy Morris has been knocking out one record after another. Not only is the insanely huge quantity of the Portage, Michigan resident’s work impressive, but the quality remains habitually high.
Aside from his own excellent efforts, Jeremy is the commander in chief of the well regarded JAM Recordings, which supports independent artists from all over the world.
Pressed on the Fruits de Mer imprint – and available only for fan club members of the label – Open Minds is a 15-track sampling of Jeremy’s musical projects. Though Jeremy Morris composes and performs a wide range of genres, the package points the arrow at his psychedelic and progressive-rock offerings.
Plucked from Jeremy’s solo catalog, there’s “Moon Turning Red,” “Time Tunnel” “Not of This World” and “Sky Song,” which are first-class art rock epics. Ballooning with synthesizer stunts and striking guitar action that is equal parts bruising and beautiful, these tunes are sure to win favor with followers of bands like Yes, Pink Floyd, the Moody Blues and Electric Light Orchestra.
A good chunk of material on Open Minds is actually dedicated to the Lemon Clocks, a band Jeremy Morris has been involved with for several years.
Exposing a penchant for teaming jangly licks, poppy hooks and sparkling harmonies with trippy jams, the Lemon Clocks tick on with adventure and innovation. Give a listen to penetrating pieces such as “The Beginning of the End,” “The End of the Beginning” and “White Horse” and prepare to have your senses jostled. Also of note on this compilation is the quirky “Spektograph,” which injects the bubbly robotic sounds of the Cars and Devo into a hard-rocking stew.
Open Minds provides only a limited taste of Jeremy Morris’ varied and able chops. But the disc does the job as far as getting newcomers interested in his magnificent music, and will definitely lead them to fix their ears on additional wonders.
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