Little Wide Open - Kevin Morby (2026)
Kevin Morby is maybe not a name you know. He hasn’t smashed any sales records or sold out stadiums or even landed himself in the news. But he’s steadily built a career over the last two decades that has made him a premier songwriter and a highly original performer.
This is his 8th solo album, by my count, and two of those–2016’s Singing Saw and 2022’s This Is A Photograph–have been big favorites of mine, with the others all having tracks I still go back to as well.
Morby’s focus is often on the natural world, or at least how it connects to the human condition. There’s also frequently a connection to the rural American midwest, with its unique imagery and outlook and its unique blend of faith and folk mysticism.
“Dylan-esque” is a word that crops up a lot when people talk about Morby and it’s well earned. He loves a vivid turn of phrase, and often repurposes language from other songs and poems and literature into his songs to add depth.
This is a gorgeously rendered album. Possibly his best, although for me I think Singing Saw will always be my favorite. There are lots of small, short slice-of-life songs interspersed with a couple of 8 minute epics that are worth every second.
