MMJ - Evil Urges - 6/10/08

[TravelbySea]

robotic funk beats?


My Morning Jacket Unveils New Album Track List
My Morning Jacket
March 07, 2008, 1:40 PM ET

Jonathan Cohen, N.Y.

My Morning Jacket throws fans another sonic curveball on its new studio album, "Evil Urges," due June 10 via ATO. The 14-track set sports the most adventurous music of the Kentucky-bred rock act's career, beginning with the title track, a falsetto-driven groove-fest that opens the disc.

MMJ is uncharted territory with songs like "Highly Suspicious," whose robotic funk beats and falsetto singing wouldn't sound out of place on a Rick James or Prince album.

Strident rockers like "Touch Me I'm Going To Scream Part 1" boast unusual touches, from fluttering synth lines and multi-tracked vocal parts to chopped-up beats and electro effects on the bass and guitars. Appearing near the end of the disc, "Part 2" of the track is an eight-minute-plus mash-up of disco drumming and grandiose production unlike MMJ has ever attempted.

Elsewhere, "Thank You Too" conjures a lost soft rock classic from the '70s, as frontman Jim James tenderly croons, "You really saw my naked heart / you really brought out the naked part."

James and his acoustic guitar are also at the forefront of "Librarian," while "Remnants" and "Aluminum Park" will satisfy fans of MMJ's straight-ahead, double-guitar attack.

The group is expected to unveil new material during shows next week in Houston and Austin, Texas, the latter one of the most anticipated sets at the South by Southwest festival.

Here is the track list for "Evil Urges":

"Evil Urges
"Touch Me I'm Going To Scream Part 1"
"Highly Suspicious"
"I'm Amazed"
"Thank You Too"
"Sec Walkin'"
"Two Halves"
"Librarian"
"Look At You"
"Aluminum Park"
"Remnants"
"Smokin From Shootin"
"Touch Me I'm Going To Scream Part 2"
"Good Intentions"

[Sandusky]

um a little worried about this one! Sounds like Z part 2.

[TANEYTOWN]

This band is on the path to suck. Hope they enjoy it when no body buys this crap.

[track11]

Going to see MMJ tonight. (Yo La Tengo opens!) Will let you know if I wear holes in my groove shoes.

[TravelbySea]

This band is on the path to suck. Hope they enjoy it when no body buys this crap.

you're prob right on the first statement. but wasn't Z their biggest seller?
i think most like grooving. just not us sorry fools.

[TANEYTOWN]

I love Prince! Damn near my favorite singer. But what I don't enjoy is Jim James doing Prince.

[Wellstone]

Thats only like four weird songs out of 14. Probably gonna be pretty good. I liked Z.

[Screechykid]

Hell, I'll still buy it, robotic funk beats or not. Wasn't a big Z fan but there were some songs on it I liked.

[Sandusky]

I tried to like Z but never could really get into it. Like others have said it just sounded like a collection of b-sides didn't have an album vibe to it. If you ask me these guys have gone downhill since At Dawn, I've liked bits and pieces of songs on the recent albums but nothing has floored me like the songs off their first 2. I crave the simple folky acoustic side of this band over the 8 minute plus disco drumming. I still listen to Tennessee Fire and At Dawn all the time, there will always be a place in my troubled black heart for those early songs. 'The Bear', 'The Way That He Sings', 'By My Car', 'I Think I'm Going To Hell', 'Bermuda Highway' hardly any bad songs on those early albums!

[Wellstone]

I liked Z for its total gamut of classic rock stuff. The Who sounds of Wonderful Man and Off the record, Allman style harmonized guitars on Lay Low, total Hawkwind spaceouts on WWm and It b's 4 U. Killer Gilmour lead coda from Dondante. And my fave cut was the tyrollian waltz Into the Woods, just an absolute fantastic melody. Not to mention the glorious religious right rip Gideon. Like the old stuff too, but will welcome this new one with open arms. JJ's a real rock god, he f's up here and there (hate disco beats) but generally hes about the most talented kid out there.

[Machine]

I'm with the Sandman on this one (Yes, we do agree on some things). At Dawn and Tennesse Fire is as far as I go with these cats. Their last two did nothing for me, which is frustrating cause At Dawn knocked my socks off. Hearing some of what the new one is about, sounds to me like a big bag of disappointment, again. I hate it when bands go in directions that seem a little off course of what you perceive them to be, much the same way how the Court and Spark went off course, for me. I don't know, maybe their heads get too big, or to smoke-filled.

[chogdog]

I'm not sure MMJ went off course either with the last one or even presumably with the new. They've always done bizarre shit on their ep's dating all the way back. "Cobra" anyone? I think the've just let their more bizarre stuff get on to their records of late instead of relegating it to their eps.

I think "it still moves" a great album. I think the recording suffered from a lack of energy though that was present when they played these songs live. They should have recorded it live and it would have been killer.

[Rowsdower]

I loved Z. I love all their records. Bring it on.

[melt]

Yeah, I'm excited about this.

[Beldo]

I'll admit "At Dawn" is their best work but I think it's good they try new things and don't get stuck in the same ole same ole. Z was probably my least favorite of theirs, but it still got a lot of plays. I too thought it just didn't hold together as an album, there were a lot of throwaway tracks, and it really did sound more like one of their EPs. Looking forward to that soft rock track they talked about!