Morphine (2) ‎– Cure For Pain

Last reviewer must have been really unlucky. This pressing sounds incredible, hifi dare I say.

On Cure For Pain, Morphine’s turned an obvious corner, and while entirely enlightening, aside from the intoxicated introspectively cool number “Let’s Take A Trip Together,” most all of the other tracks are rather angular, pointed and more spirited toward their jazz-rock endeavors.

As far as this listener is concerned, Cure For Pain shows a band who’s rather tired of endless nights on the road, attempting to be in the moment, certainly sounding effortless on these jazz encroaching numbers, yet at a loss for that be-bop coolness that defined nearly half of their first outing (Good), here keeping me on the edge of my seat, not so much out of expectation, but because the record simply gave me no place to sit back, put my feet up and roam with sense of dreamy freedom. That said, I found Cure For Pain to come off as more of an inspired group effort, though at the same time, it’s important to note that that group effort bespoke of a change in the group dynamics, as drummer Jerome Deupree left the band, being replaced by Billy Conway, so yes, that’s another obvious reason for the change in sound … perhaps making the album more cutting edge, though certainly less inviting without the atmospheric murky darkness. With that in mind, I fully accepted the concept that Good gave a window into a jazz band who were setting aside the standard jazz concepts in favor of something more inspirational, yet even as I say that, Cure For Pain makes me more than certain that jazz was only a conceptual idea for Morphine, as this album doesn’t remotely come off as a jazz induced record, jazz flavored yes, but not the work of fevered jazz musicians.

While Good indeed spoke to the darker side of beatnik human nature in a low-rock fashion, and often tongue in cheek-edly, as if making fun of it all, on Cure For Pain one can hear a band actually looking for a cure, where the ideas of drugs and the unrequited longings for things just out of reach, as if flirting with disaster, are more than evident. Even so, I wouldn’t call this album a misstep, it’s more that it lacks the emotional warmth and instant satisfaction of the afore mentioned track “Let’s Trip Together,” where the chemistry between the bass-lines, the bluesy swagger of imaginative storytelling spurred on by a haunting sax, all conspired to effortlessly enthrall me.

Review by Jenell Kesler

Thanks for the information about it still being available at the newburry website. Got it today. As expecting a little more about some additional information and not only the lyrics. Some history about this record like the Music on vinyl represses.

Soooooo digging this pressing. Obviously insane upgrade from the cassette copy I rocked back in the day. Still, this is on beautiful marbled blue vinyl for starters and nice heavy 180g pressing. Mix is stunning with sharp vocals and sax solos that jump out and linger. Truly a revelatory experience hearing this release for the thousandth but sort of first time.

This pressing is absolutely gorgeous on all levels. I know this album and band like the back of my hand. I've never heard it on vinyl until now...KILLER. Morphine, forever.

Fantastic sounding record, but it's cut a bit too low, so it's not as quiet as it could be.

If I'm not mistaking, this was not originally issued on vinyl when it came out (domestically at least). Down the line Light in the Attic came to press it on its first ever vinyl edition. Further down the line, MOV got their hands on it, pressed a standard black version and subsequently this colored version. Having heard this and the standard Light in the Attic reissue, I have to say I'm impressed with MOV has done. This is a very quiet pressing and it sounds phenomenal. It may be a testament to how well-produced this album was, but either way I think MOV serves it best. Definitely recommended! I wouldn't worry about this being hard to find later on if you're on the fence. 3500 copies doesn't exactly sound so limited to me.

Another TOP NOTCH job MOV - thank you very much!

One of the best pressings of any Album I have ever owned! This album should only be on this pressing! Beautiful marble and high quality audiophile material! Usa buyers hurry while there are still sellers here!