Rich Duncan
06/10/08, 10:41 PM
My Morning Jacket - Evil Urges
Record Label: ATO Records
Release Date: June 10, 2008
Over the course of the last ten years, Louisville Kentucky based My Morning Jacket steadily rose through the ranks on the buzz of two albums on independent Darla Records and pushed through to a more widespread audience through their two critically acclaimed ATO releases, It Still Moves and Z. These two albums placed the band on the radar of virtually every music publication and accolades were handed out hand over fist for the band’s albums and impressive live shows. Known for reverb drenched vocals and a musical amalgamation of indie rock, southern rock, and psychedelic styles, My Morning Jacket began settling into a comfortable niche for themselves by the release of 2003’s It Still Moves. However, Z found the band expanding their sonic palette by incorporating different music styles and recording outside of the confines of their home studio and Evil Urges continues the evolution of the band’s sound.
From the outset of Evil Urges the progression of the experimentation hinted at on Z is apparent. “Evil Urges” opens with spacey guitar lines, a slightly funky vibe and James’ falsetto vocals, but a little over halfway through the track the band erupts into a familiar jamming sequence that adds an air of familiarity to the new style demonstrated here. “Highly Suspicious” is easily the most jarring of changes to My Morning Jacket’s sound and will be sure to cause many fans to scratch their heads in confusion. James’ falsetto reaches its highest peak that bears startling similarities to Prince (or whatever he calls himself these days), the stern and eerily robotic sounding background vocals sound a tad ridiculous, and is home one of the oddest lines I have heard recently (“peanut butter pudding surprise!”). Although this track stands out awkwardly amongst the other tracks on Evil Urges, it is not a complete throwaway as there are a few interesting guitar licks interspersed throughout.
Although the beginning of the album highlights an entirely new direction for My Morning Jacket, “I’m Amazed” would fit in snuggly with the band’s older material with its southern rock sound and plenty of muscular guitar riffs and jamming thrown in for good measure. “Thank You Too!” is one of the more surprising tracks on the album that find the band nailing the perfect balance of their new influences with their signature sound. This slow, heart warming ballad that features string arrangements from David Campbell could blend in startlingly well on one of those “Best Slow Jams of The 70’s” CD’s that are always advertised on late night television (which may be a good or bad thing depending on your tastes). Though I originally thought I would be more partial to the driving southern rock tracks on Evil Urges, “Thank You Too!” is the track I find myself returning to the most. “Aluminum Park” and “Remnants” are a perfect one-two punch of driving rock and roll songs chock full of riffs and solos that jolt the listener out of the lull created by some of the more reserved tracks.
Evil Urges is an album that shows My Morning Jacket shattering the mold they were slowly being confined in because they can no longer be defined by the characteristics fans and critics have come to expect from them. The album is an exercise in genre hopping as My Morning Jacket cover everything from rock and roll (“I’m Amazed”, “Aluminum Park”, “Remnants”) to country (“Sec Walkin”, “Look At You”) and funk (“Touch Me I’m Going To Scream Pt.2”, “Highly Suspicious”), among others. Evil Urges is a hard album to get into from first listen, however with every subsequent listen, the album beings to flow much better and the songs slowly begin to leave their impression upon the listener. Evil Urges is an exciting and refreshing listen that finds a veteran band reinventing themselves and taking risks rather than sticking with a tried and true formula, and it will be interesting to hear what My Morning Jacket come up with next.
"Touch Me I'm Going To Scream Pt. 1", "Thank You Too!", and "I'm Amazed"
Wilco, The Flaming Lips, Band Of Horses
Myspace (http://www.myspace.com/mymorningjacket)
Record Label: ATO Records
Release Date: June 10, 2008
Over the course of the last ten years, Louisville Kentucky based My Morning Jacket steadily rose through the ranks on the buzz of two albums on independent Darla Records and pushed through to a more widespread audience through their two critically acclaimed ATO releases, It Still Moves and Z. These two albums placed the band on the radar of virtually every music publication and accolades were handed out hand over fist for the band’s albums and impressive live shows. Known for reverb drenched vocals and a musical amalgamation of indie rock, southern rock, and psychedelic styles, My Morning Jacket began settling into a comfortable niche for themselves by the release of 2003’s It Still Moves. However, Z found the band expanding their sonic palette by incorporating different music styles and recording outside of the confines of their home studio and Evil Urges continues the evolution of the band’s sound.
From the outset of Evil Urges the progression of the experimentation hinted at on Z is apparent. “Evil Urges” opens with spacey guitar lines, a slightly funky vibe and James’ falsetto vocals, but a little over halfway through the track the band erupts into a familiar jamming sequence that adds an air of familiarity to the new style demonstrated here. “Highly Suspicious” is easily the most jarring of changes to My Morning Jacket’s sound and will be sure to cause many fans to scratch their heads in confusion. James’ falsetto reaches its highest peak that bears startling similarities to Prince (or whatever he calls himself these days), the stern and eerily robotic sounding background vocals sound a tad ridiculous, and is home one of the oddest lines I have heard recently (“peanut butter pudding surprise!”). Although this track stands out awkwardly amongst the other tracks on Evil Urges, it is not a complete throwaway as there are a few interesting guitar licks interspersed throughout.
Although the beginning of the album highlights an entirely new direction for My Morning Jacket, “I’m Amazed” would fit in snuggly with the band’s older material with its southern rock sound and plenty of muscular guitar riffs and jamming thrown in for good measure. “Thank You Too!” is one of the more surprising tracks on the album that find the band nailing the perfect balance of their new influences with their signature sound. This slow, heart warming ballad that features string arrangements from David Campbell could blend in startlingly well on one of those “Best Slow Jams of The 70’s” CD’s that are always advertised on late night television (which may be a good or bad thing depending on your tastes). Though I originally thought I would be more partial to the driving southern rock tracks on Evil Urges, “Thank You Too!” is the track I find myself returning to the most. “Aluminum Park” and “Remnants” are a perfect one-two punch of driving rock and roll songs chock full of riffs and solos that jolt the listener out of the lull created by some of the more reserved tracks.
Evil Urges is an album that shows My Morning Jacket shattering the mold they were slowly being confined in because they can no longer be defined by the characteristics fans and critics have come to expect from them. The album is an exercise in genre hopping as My Morning Jacket cover everything from rock and roll (“I’m Amazed”, “Aluminum Park”, “Remnants”) to country (“Sec Walkin”, “Look At You”) and funk (“Touch Me I’m Going To Scream Pt.2”, “Highly Suspicious”), among others. Evil Urges is a hard album to get into from first listen, however with every subsequent listen, the album beings to flow much better and the songs slowly begin to leave their impression upon the listener. Evil Urges is an exciting and refreshing listen that finds a veteran band reinventing themselves and taking risks rather than sticking with a tried and true formula, and it will be interesting to hear what My Morning Jacket come up with next.
"Touch Me I'm Going To Scream Pt. 1", "Thank You Too!", and "I'm Amazed"
Wilco, The Flaming Lips, Band Of Horses
Myspace (http://www.myspace.com/mymorningjacket)