Essentials: The Top 10 John Moreland Songs

John Moreland has been widely covered in these pages to unanimous praise for the heartfelt candour in which this songwriter from Tulsa tells his stories from the gloomier end of the human condition. Moreland has been compared to many great artists. Springsteen, Steve Earle and Townes Van Zandt come most readily to mind. These are valid and big names, but Moreland is a complete original. His solo albums become progressively more complex musically until he returned to his acoustic self-recorded roots with last year’s release, “Visitor”. I have restricted this exercise to Moreland’s seven solo albums. What particularly stands out throughout is their consistently high quality. That, as you might anticipate, makes a ‘best of’  or, harder still, ‘top ten’ rather demanding Whether you are new to Moreland or a committed fan, dear reader, please just take this selection as a reasonable starting point for a sensible appreciation of a unique songwriter. If you don’t like the order then throw the whole lot up in the air and see where they fall. That will do too.

On the face of it, Moreland’s songs have an almost uniform bleakness, verging on hopelessness. But that is to miss the point because most of the time he is not fighting against anything or taking sides. Instead, in his rueful manner he shrugs and tells it as it is. He is deeply personal, talking directly about lost love, what might have been, and above all, acceptance. Moreland is confessional but there is no sense of having wiped the slate clean.

Number 10: ‘Nobody Gives A Damn About Songs Anymore’ from “In The Throes” (2013)

From Moreland’s third solo album, the brisker tempo and lively pedal steel exude a more cheerful side but there is nothing particularly optimistic about the title or lyrics. Moreland asks himself the question that must challenge anyone creative: what’s the point? Deeply held beliefs about integrity in songwriting are shattered by the music industry’s commercialism. The chorus says it all, “One for the money, four on the floor/ You were born last week with your foot in the door/ I heard truth is what songs are for/ Nobody gives a damn about songs anymore.”

Number 9. ‘For Ichiro’ from “LP5″ (2020)

When it came out LP5 is considered Moreland’s most musical so far. His experimentation was no doubt prompted and certainly enriched, by his producer Matt Pence who had worked with Jason Isbell among many others. An instrumental and to those who are drawn more to Moreland’s words, this might appear a waste of a valuable slot but as he puts it, “messing around” musically is an essential component of his writing. So here is a delightful, light and short glimpse of that “messing around”.

Number 8: ‘Hang Me In The Tulsa County Stars’ from “High On Tulsa Heat” (2015)

Moreland recorded “High on Tulsa Heat” at his parents’ home while they were on holiday. This is the album’s opener and my introduction to John Moreland. There is such a sense of space, both in his gentle acoustic picking, his voice worn with sadness and the vast distance of those stars, sparkling in the song’s intro. Love drives him to feel as if “My heart is growing heavy from the ever-endless hurt/ So I don’t want to come back down to earth”. A year after the album’s release I saw Moreland opening for Jason Isbell in London. The venue was surprisingly full for this support, and what a set he played, including this heart-wrencher which is why I have gone for the live version.

Number 7: ‘Good Book’ from ‘’Earthbound Blues” (2011)

From the first of his solo albums this short blast of rock ‘n’ roll offers a revealing link to Moreland’s past, musically and personally. Before going solo Moreland cut two records as John Moreland & The Black Gold Band. Their full-on rock, his earlier punk and hardcore leanings plus an upbringing exposed to strict religion all collide in this two-minute thrash. Nothing like the later Moreland’s quiet acoustic musing but useful to know where some of it came from all the same.

Number 6: ‘Salisaw Blue’ from ‘‘Big Bad Luv” (2017)

Not a million miles away from those previous beginnings comes this raucous opener to an album that saw Moreland continue building the various layers evident in its predecessor, “LP5″. From an album generally thought to be, if not completely optimistic, at least a lot less depressing as Moreland finds lasting love, this pick is anything but happy. A loose but fast pace, “a noose hanging down from the heavens above” augers badly (as if the rolling acoustic, and wailing harp are not enough).

Number 5: ‘Ugly Faces’ from “Birds In The Ceiling” (2022)

Moreland brought the synthetic drum machine and other studio effects from “LP5″ to his next release to great effect, particularly on the quieter tracks. This is a good example of how his music evolved the underlying lyrics remain as brutally candid as ever: “I couldn’t hear you calling, the bullshit was so loud/ I’m sorry you got borrowed, I’m sorry you got bruised/ I wish I could’ve found a way to be of better use”. The effects ease his sense of acceptance, “But I’m a lonely shade of bluе/ I don’t know what else to do”.

Number 4: ‘When My Fever Breaks’ from “LP5” (2020)

Dedicated to his wife, the visual artist Pearl Rachinsky, Moreland expresses not just his profound love, but he also feels an apprehension of what if it does not last? That synthetic drum is the heartbeat, the distant keys suggest what might lie ahead should this bond ever loosen. This is Moreland baring his soul from what was considered his rawest album to date. It is also good example of why Moreland is often compared to Springsteen.

Number 3: ‘Blue Dream Carolina’ from ‘‘Visitor” (2024)

After years of steady releases and a heavy touring schedule Moreland took time out in 2023. Not so much to recover the songwriting muse but just plain rest and some personal reflection. He turned off his smartphone for six months. Then with no advance publicity he surprised the music world with this self-release last year. Matching the marketing strategy Moreland returned to the stripped back sparseness of earlier records. Apart from the contribution from long-time collaborator John Calvin Abney, Moreland does everything. If unwavering to his bleak truths, he sounds more accepting. As he admitted in his interview with AUK’s Martin Johnson last year, he doesn’t tell people what to think but he does ask the important questions. Pulling out a standout song is a lottery, so here is that spare, raw Moreland recording from his house. Evoking Springsteen and “Nebraska”, Moreland pours out sorrow without much in the way of relief asking: “Blue dream Carolina/ Remind me why I do this/ Tell me what the truth is/ Don’t tell me who to be”. There is no easy answer, if one exists at all.

Number 2: ‘Ain’t Much I Can Do About It’ from ‘‘Visitor” (2024)

Staying with “Visitor” here comes that feeling of inevitable sadness and profound regret once again: “Living in a town I don’t recognise/ The old one disappeared before my eyes/ But there ain’t much I can do about it”. The brisk tempo suggests resilience and while there is much to raise anger, the whole album shows Moreland accepting his lot, that is not the same as saying it is ok, far from it. There is a lot he sees that makes him rage but Moreland does not allow himself to rail against the world. This song is a perfect example.

Number 1: ‘You Don’t Care For me Enough to Cry’ from ‘High On Tulsa Heat” (2015)

If there was ever a title that encapsulates John Moreland, this must be it. Heaving with despondency, a voice laden with utter dejection, even the notes he picks on his guitar could be tears. He takes you into his confidence, into the confessional even, but for John Moreland there is no absolution: “But I beg, steal and borrow/ I’m so damn good at sorrow/ And you don’t care for me enough to cry”.

Having reached Number 1, like John Moreland I allow myself a question, is this the best John Moreland song? Will there be howls of protest in the comments under this list all starting with, what about…? Everyone is entitled to their opinion so I should end by saying again that this list could really be in any order. But, regardless of sequence, I hope you will at least enjoy these songs and listen to the albums. All of them.