It was maybe a month and a half ago that I was at Metro waiting for The Acorn to take to the stage when the sound guy just happened to be playing Evil Urges between bands. It actually took me a few songs to realize that it was the new My Morning Jacket record even though I sorta (surprisingly) liked it. It’s the kind of weird departure record that may have almost (or actually) killed any/all the momentum the band built up through their last few releases. I’m not sure how much sense it makes, but hey, the more I listen to it, the more it gets inside my head. Even the crazy overdone Prince-esqe nu-funk of songs like “Highly Suspicious” kinda make me smile. I mean, seriously, what the fuck was the band thinking when they let Jim James record that song’s silly falsetto vocals, the chuckles, and over-the-top chorus vocals? It’s enough for any self-respecting My Morning Jacket fan to actually check their CD player to see if they have the correct disc playing. Even so, I kinda like the record.

It takes some of the far-fetched permutations of Z and stretches them out but also remains (at times) like the rootsy jam-rock band you heard tear it up on Okonokos. Whether you love or hate Evil Urges or have an opinion somewhere in between the extremes, My Morning Jacket has (again) proved that they are not a band that is content to rest on their laurels and take the easy way out. I just hope they don’t go off the deep end next time around.

MP3 | My Morning Jacket – Evil Urges Evil Urges
MP3 | My Morning Jacket – I’m Amazed Evil Urges

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5. Review: Fjord Rowboat – Saved The Compliments For Morning