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Description
**Singing Saw** (2016) represents Kevin Morby's most distilled expression of weary introspection, arriving in the wake of his debut and the experimental **Still Life**. Recorded in the secluded woods of Isokon Studios in Woodstock, New York, the album signals a maturation process that feels both inevitable and earned. Where his earlier work leaned toward referential pastiche, *Singing Saw* finds Morby grounded, confident in the elemental tools at his disposal: his gravelly baritone, which swings from intimate confession to stylized monologue, and his ability to construct songs as cohesive musical pieces rather than mere collections of hooks.
The sonic landscape is richly textured, courtesy of producer **Sam Cohen**, keyboardist **Marco Benevento**, and the titular singing saw on the title track and "Cut Me Down"-an instrument of haunting, folkloric resonance that underscores Morby's affinity for the obscure and the personal. The arrangement is deliberate, avoiding excess in favor of warmth and intimacy, with string arrangements by **Eliza Bagg** and **Oliver Hill** lending a cinematic sweep to songs like "Water" and "Dorothy." This restraint is not a limitation but a statement of control.
Critics took notice. Pitchfork's Mark Richardson observed that on *Singing Saw*, Morby "is figuring out how to retain and amplify his strongest points-his weary and wise voice, his understanding of how the musical pieces fit together-and leave everything else behind" [[1]]. The Metacritic score of 84 reflects what many agreed: a refinement of process that feels both polished and raw. Mojo placed it at #23 on their 2016 best-of list, while Uncut awarded it a 9/10 [[2]]. For those with a collection that values lyrical weight over flash, this is essential listening-indeed, *Singing Saw* marked a turning point for Morby's trajectory, positioning him as a voice of quiet authority in the indie folk canon.
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[[1]] https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/kevin-morby-singing-saw/
[[2]] https://pitchfork.com/features/lists-and-guides/best-albums-2016/
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