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The most unique aspect of the band is the dual vocals of Jessica Leplon and Justin Wiley. Although not incredibly rare in this day and age, it is somewhat of a minority among the pop rock scene. The Morning Of fuses mellow vocals and themes with grungy aggressive instruments to create a very surreal vibe. A third of The World As We Know It, the debut album released January of this year, consists of slowed down jazzy instrumentals with the help of a piano and funky guitar work, but usually the musical tones are very hard hitting.

The first track is really just an introduction to their album and a lead up to their second song. Although not really a song, it gives listeners a taste of the kind of serious but mellow vibe that underlines the entire album. With themes of equality and such, The Morning Of uses music to address issues and concerns of today’s age. But don’t worry, it is far from a politically charged album, more optimistically charged than anything. Listeners will still get that easy listening feel expected of most pop rock bands.

Getting right into the second track (or the first real song), Let Your Spirit Soar, a very fast paced song that’s uplifting and aggressive. The drums and guitars are very prominent in this track, and the piano makes for a very pleasant melody. The vocals are really awesome with the interchanging male and female lyrics. The interesting part is that Justin doesn’t have a very deep voice, and it is somewhat high pitched, so the contrast between vocals is not as large as many might think, but that’s what makes it unique and that much better. The chorus is really catchy, but in a serious kind of manner, and the vocals make the overall song feel optimistic and laid back. This song is predominantly Justin and shows the aggressive side to The Morning Of. (When I say predominantly it’s truly only a sixty/forty split.)

Skipping to track four, Reverie is a more of a classic, beautiful song. This time around, Jessica takes on some of the more powerful parts of the song, which is fitting, a female voice for a softer more classy song. This song is very uplifting and gives listeners a sense of hope and optimism. Although a slower start it does show glimpses of aggressive tones nearer to the end, which is the climax of the song. This pattern of building up the music is what gives the listeners an emotional trip, and I think suits the music very well.

The Morning Of plays a range of different songs, Smooth Sailing, has a jazzy guitar tone, coupled with relaxing drums and mellow vocals. The New Is In, is a much slower song, using primarily a piano, the vocals are very soft, and the tone is much more relaxed. The Morning Of does a great job of choosing when to use female and male vocals, and I think both vocalists are excellent, but together they are wicked awesome. With such a variety of styles, their first full length album is a remarkable listen.

Check out their Myspace for official tour dates and album info.

The Morning Of – Let Your Spirit Soar

The Morning Of – Reverie