France loves Jerry Lewis, so why wouldn’t it love Jeremy Morris as well? Presumably there’s some affinity - after all, Jeremy (he eschews his last name) chose to record his first live album while in concert this past summer. Although there’s little trace of audience reaction - and for that matter, no between-song patter - Jeremy’s in fine form, delivering a mostly mellow 18-song set buoyed by his vibrant acoustic guitar strumming, occasional harmonies and a wide-eyed optimism that permeates the performance as a whole. His is a curious combination of celestial musings and pure pop circumstance, given that most of the entries veer towards puffy love songs or lush new age-style instrumentals. The one-two opening caress of “It’s Getting Better” and “Where Were You?” set a high standard, a pair of pretty ballads that all but guarantee an instant connection. His convincing take on the Beatles’ “You’ve Got To Hide Your Love Away” also ups the ante, given the fair approximation of a Lennon-like vocal. And if his lyrics occasionally slip into sophomoric patter (“Your love is bigger than anything/Your love is stronger than hate/Your love is totally everything/Your love is truly great”), all’s forgiven considering his effusive attitude. You might say it’s simply magnifique!
~ Lee Zimmerman
