West Virginia Refugee

West Virginia Refugee by Jack Ballengee Morris (reviewed 8/15/18)

Ballengee delivers a spare, yet captivating sound in West Virginia Refuge. His voice is understated in a way that makes you want to listen intently to catch his articulate lyrics. Most tunes are simply arranged acoustic numbers intriguingly accented with fiddle & organ, but he is also quite adept at rocking it up, ala tracks 7 & 8. Everything on this disk deserves a spin.

If you like: Kris Kristofferson, Alejandro Escovedo, Utah Phillips

**1 Simple, lovely story about migrating to CA with nice fiddle (2:15)
*2 Guitar & vocals are as crisp & clear as a mountain stream (2:46)
**3 Lovely love story with nice accordion accents (2:51)
**4 Interesting story with sublime finger picking & fiddle (5:24)
**5 Powerful uptempo story with engrossing bass guitar & drum (3:47)
*6 Spare, simple & beautiful with superb guitar & organ accents (3:20)
**7 Starts spare & builds to a crescendo, great guitar, accordion & cello work (3:57)
8 Uptempo song about assassinations of Lincoln, JFK & others (4:23)
9 Expansive song with a great bridge (3:22)

*Mr. Bones especially likes these

Reviewed by: Kim Walter
Oct 2016
Label: Great Jones



A solid first album from a young musician exposed to the world of folk festivals since the age of five and officially trained by his father in this tradition beginning at the tender age of sixteen. Clear lyrics in a gentle voice, often with and undertone of melancholy I think JBM is probably more in his element performing live. Most songs are slow (and somewhat repetitive -very much in the tradition of protest music and folk singing). Best are #3, #5 and #8. All SLOW tempo, except #5, #8

Jack Ballengee Morris “West Virginia Refugee”
1.2:15 Slow ballad about coming out west. Twinges of regret?
2. 2:46 Echos of John Prine… Emotional title, but doesn’t come across as painful or deep. Slow
3. 2:51 Romantic Sounding slow ballad. I can picture butterfly kisses and Eskimo Pies
4. 5:24 Nice imagery. Sounds like some kind of lament
5. 3:47Album’s namesake. A true protest song about his homeland. **medium tempo
6. 3:20 Nice variation in medley. Slow
7. 3:57 Creative play on words in the title… song slow and monotonous
8. 4:23 Reminds me of a mellow Irish drinking song (upbeat for JBM). Accordian sounds like bagpipe.
9. 3:22I think I fell asleep… Just kidding. Slow, solid, unevocative songwriting