If you’re a fan of Kentucky’s My Morning Jacket, then the release of their new album Evil Urges couldn’t have come sooner. It’s been three years since the release of their terrific 2005 disc Z, which may very well have been the very best album of that given year. While Z inevitably helped move the band closer towards a more indie rock direction, away from the strict southern-rock jam style that MMJ had previously specialized in, Evil Urges carries the group even farther away from their original formula.
While not completely abandoning their bread and butter, frontman and principal songwriter Jim James experiments with different styles on Evil Urges, in the process keeping his band mates on a much tighter lease than they’ve been on in the past. Though guitar solos and extended instrumental parts are still present, the band feels much less like a “jam band” and much more like a band that’s ready to break into the mainstream.
James’ lyrics also have more substance and his vocals contain much more of a hook than in the past. He muses about why he shouldn’t feel guilty about things he does as long is “it ain’t hurtin’ nobody,” and puts life into perspective on the pop sensible “Two Halves.” But despite the new creativity lyrically, it’s still the terrific song writing that makes MMJ who they are. On Evil Urges, the band begins to sound less like a group that’s following in the footsteps of the Allman Brothers, and more like a band that will persuade musicians to eventually follow in their footsteps. Though the amount of extended instrumental jams that are present are definitely scaled back from what we’re used to and are indeed missed as a result, the new album is just much too enjoyable to feel disappointed by this.
Evil Urges mixes indie pop, southern rock, dance music and old school country seamlessly around James’ ranging vocals. The infectious title track that opens the album takes the best of old MMJ and mixes it with the best of the new, reaping terrific results. It’s a song looks like it may very well be the single for which My Morning Jacket launches itself into the American conscious. The two part “Touch Me I’m Going to Scream,” combines a laid back melody, a steady bass line and an effective pleading lyric. The country fried “Sec Walkin,” on the other hand, has more twang than anything put out recently by any of the so called alt-country bands.
My favorite track on the new album may be the Eagles inspired “Thank You Too!” Featuring soothing guitar work, pitch perfect vocals, a string aided chorus and even one of those aforementioned extended instrumental jams; it falls into the ever growing catalogue of timeless MMJ songs.
The only real gripe I had with this album was its departure from the band’s previous work. James has been quoted many times as saying that the last thing that he wants is his band to fall into any type of rut musically; and believe me, the daring risks that this album takes keeps MMJ far from any of those ever looming ruts. Sadly, fans of early My Morning Jacket may cast aside this LP in spite. But I plead to you; give this album a second listen! There’s just too much depth and quality on Evil Urges to not give it a fair shake.
"Evil Urges" is on sale June 10, 2008 from ATO.
