In our endless and silly pursuit for what’s shiny and new—even in the more distinguished realm of critical songwriting—you can almost overlook ol’ John Moreland who now with his sixth record is well into the mid-career territory. But you ignore John Moreland at your own detriment.
Place whatever qualifiers you wish on the estimation of John Moreland as the overlord of all modern songwriters, like his stuff isn’t very commercial, or that sometimes he strains to find a proper melody. But on paper, his lines are pure poetry, putting words to the fears and anxieties that wash over us on a daily basis.
For those fans of songwriting that hits so hard you’re apt to fold in two and end up in a fetal position on the floor, John Moreland has been one of your favorite poisons over the last few years. Those who crave Moreland like a drug had to feel their internal clocks ringing that he was about due for another record.