Gurf Morlix

On this disc Morlix takes the songs of his friend and compadre, Blaze Foley, that often celebrate the underprivileged, and presents them for the entire world to hear. Some of the songs when you hear them will jar memories of hits by other artists; Merle Haggard, Lyle Lovett and John Prine, not a bad tribute in itself, covered Foley's songs. The songs range from love songs to political commentary. Foley never had an album released while he was alive. The story behind the three he recorded and what happened to them is both too long and too bizarre to explain here. Suffice it to say he was considered a genius and revered by his friends and fellow artists, and once you hear these songs so lovingly performed by Gurf Morlix in his inimitable way you'll know why. This is one of the most poignant discs to cross this desk this year, and it is about time this artist got his due. You might also understand why Townes Van Zandt said of his friend, "He's only gone crazy once. Decided to stay."

-Bob Gotlieb, Folk & Acoustic Music Exchange