MMJ in the Wall Street Journal today June 7

[lisaskye]

A Brand-New 'Morning'

Members of My Morning Jacket talk about the rock band's coming CD, 'Evil Urges'

By JOHN JURGENSEN     June 7, 2008; Page W2

Formed a decade ago in Louisville, Ky., My Morning Jacket is by definition a Southern rock band. But while the influence of the Allman Brothers and other acts in that tradition can be heard in My Morning Jacket's expansive guitar suites, the group has tackled increasingly diverse styles over the years. On its fifth studio album, "Evil Urges," coiled funk tracks in the style of Prince adjoin soft-rock songs that Christopher Cross could have sung in the 1970s. The album unfolds in stages, says band leader and songwriter Jim James, with the goal of reaching a broad range of listeners. But even Mr. James's bandmates were perplexed when they heard some of his first rough demos. Of the new-wave romp "Highly Suspicious," drummer Patrick Hallahan says, "My initial reaction was pretty much, 'What in the hell is this?' " But during rehearsals in Colorado the band easily fell into step. "After a while we were having so much fun with it. I think people are going to put down their barriers," Mr. Hallahan says. Uniting the album are songs done in the quintet's signature style: galloping rock steered by the high, echoing voice of Mr. James. These elements haven't led to radio hits for the band (though its representatives are aiming to change that with the new album). Instead, live concerts are at the core of My Morning Jacket's popularity with fans and critics. Mr. James (by email) and Mr. Hallahan (by phone) described a few songs on "Evil Urges," which will be released Tuesday.

'Evil Urges'
(listen to a clip)
On the lead-off track (which the band gave away free on the Web in April), Mr. James's already reedy voice adopts a Bee Gees falsetto. Despite the threatening title, the song is upbeat. It breaks into a run at the halfway point, driven by dueling guitars. Mr. James says the song took shape while he was on a walk. "I get a lot of my ideas for things on walks when my blood is pumping in my ears," he says.

'I'm Amazed'
(listen to a clip)
Mr. James used a drum machine and a home recorder to capture the structure of this song, which includes a straight-ahead rock beat and the title's declaration, repeated in harmony. He says the song is a statement about "things that amaze me, both good and bad, and how it disrupts my brain, good or bad."

'Thank You Too!'
(listen to a clip)
A delicate, reverbed guitar and shimmering strings lend this song a 1970s soft focus. "It had an R&B Motown feel to it in my head," says Mr. Hallahan, who helped set the song's laid-back pace. "We wanted to make this a sweet song that you could slow dance to, you could sway to or you could make love to."

Write to John Jurgensen at john.jurgensen@wsj.com

[Angry Ewok]

So freakin' awesome.

[Coltrane]

i think the stock market just hit an all time high!






p.s. I think this is the first and last time Christopher Cross will be mentioned in the same breath as MMJ.


p.p.s. This is also the first and last time Christopher Cross will be mentioned unironically in the 21st century.

[getinthevan]

Of the new-wave romp "Highly Suspicious," drummer Patrick Hallahan says, "My initial reaction was pretty much, 'What in the hell is this?' " But during rehearsals in Colorado the band easily fell into step. "After a while we were having so much fun with it. I think people are going to put down their barriers," Mr. Hallahan says.  

I think that sums it up quite accurately.  

I really would like to hear the initial demos and see how these songs started out.

[Love Dogg]

Mr. James...Mr. Hallahan.  I love it!

[weeniebeenie]

Mr. James...Mr. Hallahan.  I love it!

That was the first thing I thought of when I read it. ;D

[ms. yvon]

thanks, lisa!

[Penny Lane]

i think the stock market just hit an all time high!






p.s. I think this is the first and last time Christopher Cross will be mentioned in the same breath as MMJ.


p.p.s. This is also the first and last time Christopher Cross will be mentioned unironically in the 21st century.

nah, i've thought of christopher cross before when listening to jim