My Morning Jacket’s latest album, Evil Urges, conjures up a brew of familiar sounds yet still manages to elevate the trajectory of Jim James and company’s aim. The title track opens the album and you’ll have to hear what sounds like a Prince imitation/homage to believe it. It set me back a bit at first, but once I got used to James’ falsetto blending with the groove the rest of MMJ lays down I settled in for the ride. Have you ever imagined what it would sound like if The Bee Gees were a little bit country and a little less asshole? Me neither, but thanks to the song “Thank You Too!” I can now say I’ve not only heard an attempt but it didn’t make me vomit in my mouth. James’ songwriting can evoke neo-hippie personal politics like, “…I’m amazed by a divided nation/Like the rhythm of the earth I get disrupted” from the song “I’m Amazed” and can also trump up the image of a lovelorn secret admirer/stalker with lyrics such as, “Sweetest little bookworm/Hidden underneath/Is the sexiest librarian/Take off those glasses and let down your hair for me.” There’s a sensitive and somewhat boyish worldview set forth here, but Jim James explores what’s on his mind and, to a fair extent, in his pants with the confidence of a man who has seen the world and has not grown jaded by it yet.

The only true turd on the album is the obnoxious “Highly Suspicious” with its ‘80’s beat and its “…peanut butter pudding surprise” (yikes!), but overall the album provokes contemplation without pretense and inspires without ever feeling preachy. Nice effort. I’m looking forward to Prince covering a song at next year’s Coachella.

by, runo
Sep 04, 2008 @ 5:15 pm

Tags: My Morning Jacket

Category(s): Reviews

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This entry was posted 3 years, 5 months ago.
on Thursday, September 4th, 2008 at 5:15 pm
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