Gurf Morlix’s “Last Exit To Happyland”

If you’re a HickoryWind reader you’ve probably heard of Gurf Morlix, the ultimate sideman, and if you have not it is time to go read some liner notes from your music collection because you do have a cd Gurf played on and/or produced! Helpful hint on where to start: Lucinda Williams, Robert Earl Keen, Mary Gauthier, Tom Russell, Eliza Gilkyson, Slaid Cleaves, Julie Miller, Buddy Miller, Butch Hancock and Blaze Foley to name a few.

Gurf’s solo disc “Last Exit To Happyland” puts him center stage with ten tracks he either wrote or co-wrote and he certainly doesn’t sound like a sideman. Patty Griffin and Ruthie Foster add nice vocal support, the “Mighty Rick Richards” plays drums and Gurf does the rest (strings and some funky bluesy organ). Morlix’s low gravelly growl is the perfect voice for these generally somber moody tunes. Gurf’s muddy mix of blues/folk/country makes for some great late night listening for fans of Jon Dee Graham / Tom Waits.

"Last Exit To Happyland" won't be released until early 2009 but until then you can check out Gurf's MySpace page and sample some tracks from his other solo releases.

Recommended!