Press Releases
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Rob Morsberger in USA Today: 'Sumptuous' a 'Mix of Wit and Grit'By SCPR
June 23, 2010
ROB MORSBERGER IN USA TODAY: "SUMPTUOUS" A "MIX OF WIT AND GRIT"
Indie Artist Gets the Nod From Top Critic -- Morsberger on Same Playlist as James Taylor, Michael Jackson, Crowded House...
Indie rocker Rob Morsberger appears in Tuesday's edition of USA TODAY as a LISTEN UP MUSIC PICK! Pop Critic Elysa Gardner highlights the title track from his acclaimed CD 'The Chronicle of a Literal Man' on her 'Playlist,' describing the song as "sumptuous" -- a "mix of grit and wit," and "Elvis (Costello)-esque."
Morsberger finds himself in heady company via today's Pick, joined by James Taylor, Michael Jackson, Crowded House and other superstars. See Gardner's full Playlist, here: http://www.usatoday.com/life/music/reviews/2010-06-21-listen-up-playlist22- taylor_N.htm
USA TODAY - THE PLAYLIST - 6/22/10 USA TODAY's music critic Elysa Gardner highlights eight other intriguing tracks found during the week's listening.
The Chronicle of a Literal Man Rob Morsberger Morsberger transcends preciousness on this sumptuous track, done with an Elvis (Costello)-esque mix of wit and grit.
For Morsberger, today's USA TODAY Song Pick is the latest in a series of recent raves for his esoteric CD. Kevin Convey of THE BOSTON HERALD, in an A- review, stated that the "album is the kind of hyperliterate, pop-inflected singer-songwriter outing that went out of style when Warren Zevon died." THE BOSTON GLOBE praised: "think "storyteller" with a literary, cinematic, intellectual bent." Other recent reviews have compared Morsberger to a "Tom Petty/Bob Dylan hybrid," with songs that have "musical depth that is rare in pop music."
On the new CD, Morsberger takes surreal inspirations and builds a literate rock feast for listeners. Embraced not only by print media, but by TV and Radio as well, Morsberger recently appeared live on THE CW NETWORK, on FOX-TV, and on WFUV's On Your Radar at The Living Room, hosted by John Platt.
Morsberger's esoteric writing is fueled by such diverse source material as Dalton Trumbo's hearings (and subsequent blacklisting) as a writer during the McCarthy era, actor Steve McQueen, Russian Socialist expatriates, murdered civil rights workers, donkeys, Latin novelists and even Burt Bacharach. Listen to a streaming audio sampler here: http://www.sethcohenpr.com/player/robmorsberger/
THE BOSTON HERALD - A- CD REVIEW By Kevin Convey , Friday, May 21, 2010 Morsberger's fourth album is the kind of hyperliterate, pop-inflected singer-songwriter outing that went out of style when Warren Zevon died. Balancing sweet songcraft with a vinegared wit that makes you laugh out loud ("This is your life," he croonsat one point "not an independent movie.") Morsberger touches on subjects as varied as Dalton Trumbo and Burt Bacharach without sounding like a twerp. And, as the must-download title tune shows, he can write a hook that could make angels weep. http://www.bostonherald.com/entertainment/music/reviews/view.bg?articleid=1256185
This unnerving companion film for the track 'Old Jolly Farm' features the artwork of Morsberger's father, acclaimed artist Philip Morsberger, as well as original FBI 'Missing' posters and other archival elements tied to the murders of three Mississippi civil rights workers: http://www.robmorsberger.com/video
Click here to see Morsberger perform 'Old Jolly Farm' on THE CW NETWORK, WGN-TV: http://www.wgntv.com/news/liveperformances/wgntv-music-lounge-rob- morsberger,0,4839929.story
THE BOSTON GLOBE - 5/10 Being a confessional singer-songwriter has its perils (becoming whiny, melodramatic, self- involved -- need we say more?). Rob Morsberger just doesn't go there. Think "storyteller" with a literary, cinematic, intellectual bent. Morsberger's vast and varied interests in music, literature, and beyond inform his new release, "The Chronicle of a Literal Man." The man is Hollywood Ten screenwriter Dalton Trumbo (who appears on the CD's cover photo, writing in his bathtub). Besides McCarthy-era themes, the record's subjects include Russian Socialist expats, slain civil rights workers, and Latin novelists. Jon Herington shares the bill. -- Milva DiDomizio http://calendar.boston.com/cambridge-ma/events/show/110508425-rob-morsberger- jon-herington?p1=Well_ThingsToDo_feature1&p12=hp_TTDwell_feature1
MEDLEYVILLE - Interview feature By Chris Junior, 5/10 IDEAS AND EMOTIONS Songwriter Rob Morsberger blends craft with content http://www.medleyville.us/2010/05/ideas_and_emotions.html#more
Black & White - Alternative Weekly 4/10 http://www.bwcitypaper.com/Articles-i-2010-04-29-235509.113121_The_Set_List.html
THE JOURNAL NEWS / LOHUD Newspapers Croton songwriter blends pop with offbeat themes http://www.lohud.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=20105230346
WILDYSWORLD - CD REVIEW Rob Morsberger - The Chronicle Of A Literal Man 2010, Hieroglyph Records http://wildysworld.blogspot.com/2010/03/review-rob-morsberger-chronicle-of.html
MELODIC Q&A Interview http://www.melodic.net/interviewsOne.asp?interviewId=293
Though Morsberger has rightfully drawn comparisons to Tom Waits, Rufus Wainwright, Bob Dylan, Robbie Robertson and Warren Zevon (mixed with a touch of Randy Newman's absurdist wit,) he stands on his own with the deeply satisfying 'The Chronicle of a Literal Man,' and has delivered an album of richly drawn, cinematic tales. In addition to the title track, highlights include the disquieting "Old Jolly Farm," the weary imagery of "Like Eating a Stone," and the propulsive "Stroke of Insight". Morsberger recorded the CD in his upstate NY studio, and co-produced with Stewart Lerman (Dar Williams). The cover art features a classic photo of Dalton Trumbo, writing in his bathtub. The CD booklet includes artwork by Morsberger's renowned father, Philip, and by his oldest son Ben, an art student at Cooper Union. See/hear Morsberger June 5th at Towne Crier in Pawling, NY and June 8th in New York City, On Your Radar, The Living Room, hosted by John Platt.
Now based in NYC, Rob Morsberger's keyboard and arranging skills have led to sideman work with Crash Test Dummies, Marshall Crenshaw, Jules Shear, Loudon Wainwright III, Dan Zanes, Willie Nile and many more. He will appear on forthcoming new releases from Crash Test Dummies and Lucy Wainwright Roche, and he co-wrote songs on the upcoming CD from Greta's Bakery (Decca Records). A classically-trained pianist and composer, he also scores the acclaimed PBS series NOVAscienceNOW, with host Neil deGrasse Tyson. The program is currently in production for its fifth season. Morsberger recently composed music for a two-hour NOVA TV special about Charles Darwin ('What Darwin Never Knew').
THE NEW YORK TIMES took a look at Morsberger's unique career in a feature article, here: At Last, a Space for Creativity (and Loud Music) to Flow http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html? res=9F07EFD71530F931A35757C0A9609C8B63&sec=&spon=&pagewanted=1
http://www.myspace.com/robmorsberger
www.robmorsberger.com
