Cory Morrow
Full Exposure Live (Write On) Considering how hugely successful Cory Morrow has been here in Texas and how powerful a draw he is for audiences, a live album was inevitable. Too bad the 2-CD Full Exposure Live doesn’t convey much in the way of excitement or chemistry. Morrow’s songs have always been by-the-numbers affairs about Texas, highways, sunsets, Texas, Lone Star Beer, Texas, girls, and oh yeah, Texas. Live, the execution of these songs has an equally rote feel to it. “Texas Time Travelin'” has a lengthy live intro, but it does nothing to build anticipation or suspense before leading into the song. “The Highway” is typical Morrow fare, and fellow yokel Pat Green steps up to help mutilate Waylon Jennings’ “Are You Sure Hank Done It This Way?” The band churns away in workmanlike fashion behind Morrow, his guitarist John Carroll being quite inventive, but the whole thing just doesn’t generate much heat. Avid Morrow fans will probably want Full Exposure, but everyone else can probably sit this one out.
This article appears in May 23 • 2003.