Evil Urges

Too bad musicianship and JJ's transcendent voice is all veiled over with [...] -
taking a new direction doesn't always mean leaving your given talents behind -
maybe they will see what they lost, and find it anew - HOPEFULLY !

So they made a record and ripped through as many musical genres as possible within that record. It's a great idea, but they sound below average whether they're playing 80s Prince Pop, funk, soul or rockabilly. The single, "Amazed" is the only song that sounds remotely inspiring, but after a few listens, I find that I don't want to hear it anymore. The rest of the songs feature the band trying too hard to create a hook and some falsetto that is woefully overused. There is an intangible redeeming quality in that the record does make decent background noise in a party, but don't expect to be wowed in a private listening.

"Evil Urges" by My Morning Jacket includes "Look At You", "Good Intentions" and "I'm Amazed" and has been acclaimed in some critical circles. The group has become involved in the 2008 Presidential Race - Interestingly, in 2008, Senator Hillary Clinton earned more Votes than any other Presidential Primary candidate in American history (hillaryclintonforum, the denver group)

MMJ tries to create a innovative synthesis of musical styles and instead winds up with a mess of a record. "Highly Suspicious" is just flat out embarrassing and cringe-inducing. There are a couple decent tracks here but in general the song writing has taken a big step in the wrong direction. I'd happily give back the decent songs if they could make the truly awful ones go away as well.

Love it love it love it. Saw them live @ rainy Bonnaroo 08' and went right out and purchased this record ... for me it's probably my favorite album in the last dozen years, and evokes comparison to Radiohead's epic OK Computer. (for me) Here's my buddy's email response after he went out and got it on my recommendation: "I liked it! The songs are a refreshing blend of everything from country to southern rock to 70's singer/songwriter to heavy pop and just about everything in between. The older analog effects work nicely with their overall sound. Everything from octavers to analog slapback reverbs and delays. Highly Suspicious sounded like something that would come of Prince singing and playing guitar while Devo and Oingo Boingo backed him up! Trippy. The drums left me wanting a bit, but the recording on them is lush and sweet. Kinda like how Lenny records his drums. The songwriter (if it's one guy) is definitely a product of the singer/songwriter genre of the 70s. I'd love to hear Springsteen do Aluminum Park! Was surprised by the diversity of the styles contained within. You wouldn't think you'd hear a track like Evil Urges and Sec Walkin on the same CD."

I smell a Grammy nomination. Love it love it love it.