Evil Urges

How was THIS the album that turned My Morning Jacket into a band that could play Radio City Music Hall, Red Rocks, and Madison Square Garden?! Even weirder was all the press they got right before this album came out, as if it was going to be a masterpiece or something. Where was all the press when they came out with GOOD music? I usually love when a band moves onto something new in their songwriting, and "Z" was an excellent example of not making the same old album all over again and bringing the listener something fresh and exciting... but the new "ideas" on this album are shallow and lousy... don't expand yourself if you can't do it, MMJ.

Although "Evil Urges" is My Morning Jacket's "growing pains" album, it's hard not to love this psychedelic band. Even with some really wacky song in which Jim James tries to pull off a Prince song, My Morning Jacket still retains the psychedelic twists and shouts that I just love.

In some senses, "Evil Urges" actually tends to pull My Morning Jacket back into the psychedelic mode, with dreamy psychedelic chords and vocals. Some songs, such as "Touch Me I'm Going to Scream Part 1" continue MMJ's psychedelic mix of gorgeous, resonating chords.

However, My Morning Jacket tries two different things that are new. First, they try pulling off a funky 80s style Prince song with "Highly Suspicious." While this is definitely going to turn off My Morning Jacket loyalists, this is a joy for me. It is definitely something new for Jim James to sing with a high pitch and with staccato guitars rather than the dreamy resonating chords.

Second, My Morning Jacket decides to pull off another trick--they play like Van Halen in the metal-style song Remnants. And the band pulls off every single metal trick imaginable--blazing fast electric guitar solos and loud drums. Undoubtedly, this will turn off more fans, but I still love it.

There are also a couple other changes. They try soft songs, with the acoustic guitar ballad "Librarian," where Jim James sings about a fantasy sex scene with a librarian. They also try switching to a Kraftwerk-style sound with electronic keyboards galore in the opening to "Touch Me I'm Going to Scream Part 2." No doubt, hardcore fans will be a little dismayed with the more drastic changes, but this is a wonderful album, with numerous changes here and there to the Morning Jacket formula.

With all that said though, this album isn't the best album for new My Morning Jacket fans. The best albums are still "It Still Moves" and "Z." Still, this album is a great look at the new changes My Morning Jacket is making to their sound.

Like many, I was put off by the falsetto right out of the gate and thought, what the hell happened to MMJ? Truth is, nothing. If you have listened to all of their material from the early demos through Okonokos, then you know that JJ continues to strive for growth in the art he creates. I am not easily put off by a different sound, and those of you who judged this album after one listen, for shame. It proves to be a very entertaining release, one that I now feel will get spun more often than their prior issues. Give it another try.

Sorry to all you kids who fell in love with Z, but this album is not Z, part 2. IT IS FAR LESS POPPY. With that being said, this album is a fantastic step forward for MMJ. They have yet to go stale, nor have they sold out. What more could you ask for? THE ALBUM SOUNDS GREAT! GROW SOME TASTE! LISTEN MORE THAN ONCE!!

This is my fifth CD purchase from MMJ, and they are one of my favorite bands. Jim James' guitar playing and sweet voice come off excellent in this CD. The songwriting is awesome, as usual, and I can't wait to see this band in concert September 2008 - TWICE!!! Highly recommended CD for fans of southern rock. Love it!!