After finding success under a different project, LA-based singer-songwriter Henry Morris comes into his own on what’s an early frontrunner for most promising debuts of the year. Aptly titled Jawbreaker the way it will leave your jaw hanging with astonishment, the debut album, out via King of the World/ONErpm, is a collection of 16 reveries in song form from Morris. Among many impressive aspects about the album, what stands out most, especially when in relation to the fact that this is Morris’ first full-length project, is the uniformity throughout the tracklist, with each song standing on its own while contributing to the wider narrative.

Wide Spectrum of Stories

Tackling controversial topics much like Lana Del Rey did early in her career, Morris creates a living and breathing world set in the scandal-riddled 60s; through a dream-like logic, reality threatens the very people he sings about. On “American Baseball,” references to The Sandlot and a general glorification of Americana paint a vivid snapshot of a boy waiting for a girl at the ballgame. It’s among the sweeter moments on the album, made all the more picturesque thanks to the folksy blues instrumentation. However, not everything is as pretty as it seems, with a sinister underbelly gradually revealing itself as the album progresses. “Hollywood Sextape” is perhaps the best example of the songwriting telling a different story, presenting a false dream scenario with the upbeat guitar despite the lyrics detailing a less-than-desirable situation in the San Fernando Valley.

“‘Hollywood Sextape’ is about a young girl who dreams of being rich and famous,” said Morris. “She moves from a quaint yet boring life in the Midwest to Los Angeles where she meets a Hollywood executive who, as we’ve seen time and time again, takes advantage of her ambition and condemns her to the Hollywood Casting Couch. After a year of this mistreatment the girl, collects her last check, kills the evil man who took advantage of her, takes a large sum of his money, and returns to her quaint life. Money > fame everyday.”

Unembellished Emotions

Considering Morris used to go by Playyard, it’s no coincidence that his new material under his real name bears it all, no matter how ugly or disturbing the lyrics may be. Whether it’s the withdrawals of drug-induced states in “Junkie” or the scummy narrator in “He Could Never Love You,” there’s an underlying sense of truth in the narratives told. Even if the fantasies from Morris are fabricated, the convincing nature speaks to his vocal delivery, often capturing desperation that turns into defeat, like in “King of Saying Sorry.” Additionally, when each song is singular in its message and emotions, Morris is able to alter his vocals in order to match the change of pace. “Jealousy Trap” features a fair share of reverb, allowing the lovestruck vocals to drown into the production as Morris sings, “I’ve yet to figure out / How to slip through the cracks you left.”

Dreamy Instruments and Vocals

While there’s much to praise about Morris’ ability to weave themes and stories together, Jawbreaker is the result of an impressive team of musicians who played their part towards its distinct, all-encompassing sound. Featuring contributions from producer Rob Cavallo (Green Day), engineer Jesse Ray Ernster (Doja Cat), and musicians Andrew Wells (Dance Gavin Dance) and singer renforshort, the album impresses from start to finish. There’s no denying the A1 quality production, especially when standouts “Junkie” and “Jealousy Trap” give artists with decades behind them a run for their money. Morris himself is also a talented producer, having worked on sun-drenched album closer “Pepper.”

When an artist is so involved in the production of their music, it’s no wonder why the resulting songs are so tailor-made to their vocals, forming a pleasant, perfect harmony for the listener. Between his rebranding last year and now, there’s an accelerated growth in artistry unheard of for someone who is young and still starting out. If the next step for Morris is another leap in quality, it should be a surprise to no one, especially when Jawbreaker itself is enough to be the envy of countless others.

Words: David Sosa

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