McMorrow's debut album, Early in the Morning, was released in Ireland in February 2010, and in the United States and the rest of Europe in 2011, to widespread acclaim.

[citation needed] Tony Clayton-Lea from The Irish Times said, "An artist such as James Vincent McMorrow is commercially successful only on a certain level, so announcing a new album – arriving less than 10 months after his third, the tactically planned We Move – isn't the most financially astute of decisions.

By being "reactive to the world" he lives in, McMorrow has learned a crucial tortoise/hare lesson: instinct beats intellect every time."

McMorrow's 2021 album, titled Grapefruit Season, was produced alongside Paul Epworth, Kenny Beats, Lil Silva, and Patrick Wimberly.

[4] In January 2012, McMorrow received a European Border Breakers Award in recognition of Early In The Morning's success beyond Ireland.