Review by Shannon Shumaker
morgxn bares his soul on his debut album, vital. Tender, emotional and powerful, these eleven tracks find morxn navigating love and loss, picking up the pieces and finding himself. Between massive pop anthems like “translucent” and “home” and intimate ballads like “me without you,” morgxn not only creates songs that are relatable but also showcases his impressive vocal and sonic range.
The best thing about vital? It’s perfect for dancing, singing along in the car or just having a good cry. morgxn just has a way of blending his soulful, vulnerable lyricism into just about any sound, and he takes full advantage of that on this release. While songs stripped down, “me without you” find him trying to move on after a painful breakup, others like “carry the weight” are incredibly empowering and pick you back up with a massive chorus.
Carrying morgxn’s powerful lyricism and stunning vocals forward is lush instrumentation, which can be found throughout the entirety of the album. Although much of vital has a very beautiful, dreamy sound, there are songs that stand out from the pack, as well. “harpoon (how does it feel)” for instance, is carried primarily by a strong bass line and rather simplistic instrumentals compared to bigger songs like “carry the weight” or the catchy “home.”
The most powerful songs on vital are definitely the ones where morgxn lays it all on the line, though. “alone/forever,” which features The Naked and Famous’ Alisa Xayalith finds him crying, “I don’t wanna be alone forever” while the title track embodies the feeling of finding someone who is vital to your happiness. Then there’s the closer – his own take of The Cure’s “boys don’t cry” – which features easily some of the best vocal work on the album and perfectly encompasses the themes of vital.
It’s impossible to pick apart vital or choose the album’s best aspect, because as a whole, it’s practically flawless. These eleven moody songs flow effortlessly into one another and allow a glimpse into morgxn’s heart. From falling in love to breaking up and trying to move on, morgxn covers it all throughout vital, creating an album that anyone will be able to relate and dance to. Keep an eye on morgxn, because he’s going to blow up before you know it.
LISTEN TO: “carry the weight,” “bruised” or “boys don’t cry”
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