SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: BILLY MORRISON – THE MORRISON PROJECT

BILLY MORRISON
THE MORRISON PROJECT
TLG/ZOID/VIRGIN MUSIC GROUP

Many will know the name Billy Morrison as Billy Idol’s rhythm guitarist for the past 15 years. However, there is a great deal more to this artist than being a member of a band. He has put together an incredible album that is a superstar affair. The album has some help from Ozzy Osbourne, Billy Idol, Steve Vai, and others. But don’t be fooled, this is clearly Morrison’s album and his vision.

The Morrison Project is an interesting album full of very hard rock and heavy sounds. The album opens with heavy bass to introduce “Drowning”. Morrison does not pull punches for one second. Once “Drowning” ends, the listener moves to “Crack Cocaine”, a song about addiction featuring vocals from Ozzy Osbourne. His voice is in top form and Steve Stevens duels on guitar, and it makes for an exciting and rocking listening experience. Billy Idol makes an appearance and provides the perfect growl for “Mr. Dream”. Stevens makes another appearance here too, and his contribution does not go unnoticed.

Also worth noting is Persia Numan, daughter of Gary Numan, whose voice is in top form and fits nicely on the track “Just Like A Movie”. The track also features D.M.C. and everything in combination makes for an interesting and features some good old-fashioned scratching. Ministry’s Al Jourgensen also joins the fun with guitarist John 5 on the track “The Ayes have It”. Pure energy and stellar performances are the orders of the day and the guests provide just that for Morrison.

The last track, “Chasing Shadows”, featuring vocals by Linda Perry, is a stirring and beautiful way to end the album. After the heavy sounds of the album, this stunningly orchestrated song closes out the album. Perry has never sounded better, and it is perfect. It brings the album to an emotional ending. The album ends with the line “Are we chasing shadows in the dark?”. Quite a stark way to end the album.

But that is the point with The Morrison Project as heavy and hard rocking as it is, it is a deeply personal album for Morrison. He brings friends and musicians with whom he has worked in the past and created a fantastic album with brilliant playing and extremely well written lyrics. It is an album that rests in past glories, while being very current and relevant in 2024. In many ways The Morrison Project, like classic albums of the past, is quite timeless. The guests should attract some new listeners and fans to Morrison.

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