Artist: Bobbie Morrone
Album: The Best I Can Be EP
Genre: Pop Rock, Jazz

Judging by the three tracks on The Best I Can Be, I never would have guessed that Bobbie Morrone was only 23 years old. The Philadelphia-based singer/songwriter has that “old soul” vibe with a maturity evident in his work that’s far beyond his years. With influences spanning genres from pop rock to jazz and anything in between, Morrone covers a lot of ground in the brief 11 minutes of The Best I Can Be.

The EP opens with the luxurious “Make You Scream” which is immediately inviting and accessible. The track fuses beautiful melodies with a simple yet impressive arrangement that could easily appeal to fans of both Maroon 5 and The Reign of Kindo. The lyrics are uncomplicated but fit within the structure of the song in a way that doesn’t make them come off as hokey or immature. The added instrumental layers of piano really take the track to another level of beauty before breaking into a more anthemic rock-based jam that rounds the whole of the song out perfectly.

The centerpiece, “Long Way Down,” is entirely different structurally but is just as effective in regards to what it has to offer. If you focus too much on the song’s pattern it could come off as repetitive but at a somewhat standard 3 minutes plus, the song never feels boring. Morrone’s vocal delivery alone throughout the EP is enough to keep you hooked but the way each of the three tracks have personalities entirely their own keeps it fresh and easy to absorb without feeling like you’re hearing the same bits over and over. “Long Way Down” again shows that Morrone is completely in control of his craft as the arrangement works flawlessly by suiting the simplicity in a somewhat minimalistic marriage.

The title track, “The Best I Can Be,” brings the EP to a close with its longest offering and its most radio-ready one as well — although, one could argue that all three tracks belong on a pop-rock station. “The Best I Can Be” has Morrone at his smoothest with a Jason Mraz-like delivery but also giving the Fedora King a run for his money. Morrone really puts his vocal chops on display in this jazzy slow jam, and as this is all just a minor taste of what the man has up his sleeve, despite the EP’s name, I have a feeling that the best of Bobbie Morrone is yet to come.

SCORE: 9/10
Review written by: Brian Lion — (Follow him on Twitter)

Download The Best I Can Be via Bandcamp for whatever price you feel fit.

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Brian Leak

Editor-In-Chief. King of forgetting drinks in the freezer. Pop culture pack rat. X-Phile. LOST apologist.

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