Self-produced and recorded with a limited cast of musicians, Heartworms is both gentle yet playfully ambitious as Morrow jumps from the falsetto joy of Name For You to fuzzy glam-rock grooves (Painting a Hole) and bouncing, angular synth-pop (Cherry Hearts).
And that’s just the first three tracks. Elsewhere he touches on ’60s Merseyside balladry (Fantasy Island), Gorillaz-type mash-ups (Dead Alive), and brings to bear all his formidable songwriting chops on the title track, where glorious harmonies do battle with sharp electric guitars and a loose backbeat.
• The Shins. Heartworms. Sony.
• Four stars (out of five)
Single download: Heartworms
For those who like: Elliott Smith, Postal Service
— Shane Gilchrist
