2013.5.20 NEW RELEASES: New Orleans
To that end, Morton has made the album he set out to make.
Still, it falls short in terms of songwriting and depth. Tracks featuring Maroon 5 frontman Adam Levine and the legendary Stevie Wonder offer a little bit of zest to an otherwise middling R&B album.
Levine’s vocal turn on “Heavy’’ is a high note. And Wonder’s brief harmonica work on “Only One” is instantly recognizable and enjoyable on the album’s best track.
Most of the other songs, like “Trade It All,” wear a patina of artistic regret. We find Morton singing about achieving recording industry success, but questioning his artistic path. Those questions would be fine fuel for better songwriting with fewer hit-seeking hooks and more texture.
As it stands, Morton has treated his complex feelings rather routinely on “New Orleans.”
New Orleans
PJ MORTON
Label: Universal
Genre: R&B
with the Korea JoongAng Daily
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