My Morning Jacket
Evil Urges
ATO Records
By Mike Randall
With the release of 2005’s Z, My Morning Jacket cemented their place in the rarefied air of unclassifiable artists through studio experimentation and a refusal to adhere to any sort of strict stylistic album rules. Alongside the likes of Wilco and Radiohead, MMJ’s left turns have put them among the very few whose records are met with the type of pre-release buzz from fans leading them to ponder what exactly the next album is going to sound like. From prog rock to countrified folk to reggae-tinged jammers, they’ve become a modern-day Pink Floyd, accepted equally among head-banging hard rockers, squinty-eyed stoners and black-rimmed indie-philes.
There’s good news and bad news that comes with Evil Urges, though, the latest release from the Kentucky all-purpose collective. While Evil Urges was destined to find the band continuing down a path of unpredictability, few anticipated another masterpiece like Z, but expectations were still quite high. During the ‘50s rock of “Two Halves,” frontman Jim James sings of personal conflict over the desire for brains or body, but he might as well have been referring to his record because it unfolds like a split personality - MMJ deliver some of the most electrifying music of their career, but also some of the most head scratching.
The limits have been pushed further than ever before, whether viewed as ambition or indulgence. James sings ““If you touch me, well I’ll just scream/cuz it’s been so long, since someone challenged me” on the irresistibly eerie electro-rock of “Touch Me I’m Going to Scream Pt. 2,” in what’s perhaps reasoning for the uncharted territory in which MMJ at times wades. The combination of an industrial groove with Prince funk during “Highly Suspicious” comes off as ill advised as Neil Young’s Trans period, but it’s the back-to-back duds of “Thank You Too” and “Sec Walkin” that fall the shortest. The former is reminiscent of 70s easy listening that’s missing the soul, while the latter is country folk diluted with synthesizers. Just when you think MMJ are going to come back with something strong, “Librarian” comes through your speakers like a modern day “Nights in White Satin.”
Now that we’ve gotten through the tough part, hopefully you haven’t been scared off because for every let down there are two gems to complement it. “Look At You” and “Smokin From Shootin” both come off as the better alternatives to “Sec Walkin,” while despite its elementary lyrical content, “I’m Amazed” is electric roots-rock at its finest. Listeners are rewarded for their patience with a grand last third, which includes “Aluminum Park,” a huge arena rocker that recalls Z’s “What a Wonderful Man” and might be one of the best tracks MMJ has written. “Remnants” is another scorching rocker that brings back the MMJ we’ve come to love. Z once again comes to mind as “Touch Me I’m Going to Scream Pt. 1” expands on its predecessor through a rolling groove that shadows “It Beats 4 U” if that track had been recorded in space.
Jim James has openly stated how he’d like a great big question mark to come to mind when people think of My Morning Jacket. His willingness to go out of his way not to be labeled has propelled the band from becoming another classic-rock influenced Neil Young disciple to one of the foremost acts in American music today. That kind of daring attitude keeps things fresh and exciting for the band and fans alike, but it can also get tiring by veering too far from the tracks. James has succeeded in emitting punctuation from listeners with Evil Urges, but he might want to have a few less question marks and add a few more exclamation points next time out, because an emphatic MMJ is where they shine brightest.
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