Bluetones frontman Mark Morriss releases his second solo album, The Taste of Mark Morriss. This LP sees Morriss selecting his favourite “blast from the past” songs that helped to form his musical tastes and shape the songwriting abilities we all know and love, picked them apart and re-invented them with his own flair. Featuring something for everyone, the album provides an eclectic mix of covers, including The Sisters Of Mercy, Madonna, Laura Branigan, Weezer and The Pet Shop Boys. Bringing listeners a trip down “Memory Lane” with a fresh, new perspective...

I probably enjoyed this album way more than I should have. I'm not usually a fan of cover albums, but here Mark Morriss rips apart all 12 songs (42 min, 08 sec) and puts them back together to create an album that very much sees him making them his.

I didn't warm to this quite as much as his debut 2014 album, A Flash of Darkness, but you've got to hand it to a man who takes Madonna's 'Angel' and owns it. I was a little surprised by some of the choices, mainly because I found it a little hard to swallow that these were personal favourite tracks of his; that were inspirational to him in his younger days.

Track listing:

01 - 'This Pullover' (originally by Jess Conrad)
02 - 'Rock & Roll Woman' (originally by Buffalo Springfield)
03 - 'Souvenir' (originally by OMD)
04 - 'Self Control' (originally by Laura Branigan)
05 - 'Duchess' (originally by Scott Walker)
06 - 'You Are My Friend' (originally by Rain Parade)
07 - 'Lucretia (My Reflection)' (originally by Sisters of Mercy)
08 - 'Angel' (originally by Madonna)
09 - 'Almost Gold' (originally by Jesus & Mary Chain)
10 - 'Don’t Let Go' (originally by Weezer)
11 - 'Love Comes Quickly' (originally by The Pet Shops Boys)
12 - 'Good Archives' (originally by REM)

7

Nick Smithson