On ‘The Chronicle of a Literal Man,’ songwriter/composer Rob Morsberger takes surreal inspirations and builds an intellectual rock feast for listeners. His esoteric writing is fueled by such diverse source material as Dalton Trumbo’s hearings (and subsequent blacklisting) as a writer during the McCarthy era, Russian Socialist expatriates, murdered civil rights workers, donkeys, Latin novelists and even Burt Bacharach.
With a wonderfully twisted perspective, lyrics that are never dumbed down for the listener, and an ear for dark melody, Morsberger has delivered an album of richly drawn tales that are sure to delight fans of cinematic, literate rock. Though Morsberger has rightfully drawn comparisons to Tom Waits, Rufus Wainwright, Bob Dylan, Robbie Robertson and Warren Zevon (mixed with a touch of Randy Newman’s absurdist wit,) he solidifies his standing as an artist of distinction on ‘The Chronicle of a Literal Man.’
Morsberger recorded the CD in his upstate NY studio, and co-produced with Stewart Lerman (Dar Williams,). The cover art features a classic photo of Dalton Trumbo, writing in his bathtub. The CD booklet includes artwork by Morsberger’s renowned father and by his oldest son Ben, an art student at Cooper Union.
