Label: RARA AVIS
Rating:

Ken Will Morton didn’t want to choose between ripping fiery solos on electric guitar and having his battered-but-tough-skinned working-man’s song lyrics clearly heard this time, so he didn’t-he made room for both. Kickin’ Out the Rungs is an acoustic-based affair, with Morton’s scruffy, nasal slurring front and center, and Devil In Me is his guitar catharsis-11 tracks ratcheted up with driving, boogying verve, volume and lyrics packed in a little less densely. Both albums (together they make four for Morton) treat the exploits of a hard-living soul (drinking, gambling etc.), but Morton’s characters boast about them on Devil and come damn close to apologizing for them on Kickin’. Or, if not apologizing, the country-rock romp “Get My Head Right” at least talks about trying to get it together. All told, Morton did a good thing by indulging his dual love of songs and soloing.