The Waterfall II

[APR]

Fucking LOVED it. Incredible.

Perfectly said!

[Cameron]

Run It is the one sticking out to me after first listen too.

[Nikkogino]

Can't explain how good I feel after listening. Gosh, I've missed this forum and feeling. ❤️❤️

I agree...it's been a long time.

[rkwedge]

Overall I loved it. Run It for sure but Wasted is going fucking jam live.

[hoojack]

That was exactly what I needed.  I felt like you could definitely hear how Jim's mindset progressed from what we heard on Waterfall 1 into the Uniform Distortion/Clarity period.  It definitely didn't seem as fluid as WF1 but I didn't hear any Bad Decisions either (pun intended - sorry Big Decisions fans).

I liked the new mix in magic bullet and wasted can be a monster.  I think a lot of the other songs will grow on me on a second listen.  I was a little distracted tonight so every song didn't get my full attention.

[Jack D]

On first listen, the more reflective (and somewhat darker) side of The Waterfall. Most welcome in these strangest of times- a bright spot in this musically bleak summer. I can imagine Wasted and Magic Bullet becoming live staples on the next tour, which I can't wait for.

[jttouch2]

I'm all about it. Definitely goes some new directions in the first half with Still Thinkin', Climbin' the Ladder, and Beautiful Love, but I think I'll grow with those tracks. The back half of the record is stellar-Wasted might become my favorite Post-Z track. So much energy and with the horns, it really recalls those It Still Moves days. Real excited to keep digging into it.

[Lonndown27]

FEEL YOU and WASTED we all know it. That's primo Jacket. We know it when we hear it gang.

Thought I would have a review done but damn this requires way more listens to give it justice

[Mbayzer]

1. Spinning My Wheels - Classic, passionate JJ lyrics and melodies. Almost sounds like the ending of Master's Voice. The relevance of the song meaning in today's terms shows how an artist can be write for future without trying. Glad this song motivated JJ to release WII and I see it coming after a Circuital opener.

2. Still Thinkin - I love this song. Beach Boys/Beatles type melodies and drums. The instruments really compliment his voice and I was hoping there would be some newer pedal steel songs that jammed. I'd love for this to come after The Bear or Rollin Back. The second part of this song could be like a No Quarter jam if the audience is accepting. A lot of live potential with Preservation Hall Jazz Band. I hope they segue this into Only Memories or IWSYS. Love the riffs/sax/pedal steel in the end.

3. Climbing The Ladder - I feel like this would be on the radio and not a heavy rocking jam that we are used to. I think halfway through the song when it slowed and picked up with the little guitar solo gives hope this will be a fun song live. Maybe people are sleeping on this one, but it's probably the last song from WII people will want on the setlist.

4. Feel You - One of my new favorites. The lyrics, music arrangement, and pace of the song feels like a power ballad. It's a lost 70s soul jam that you'd find in the unwanted 45s section of a record store, blown away to discover it and nobody else knows that epicness of what you found. Maybe this fits in between Touch Me Pt 1 + 2?

5. Beautiful Love (Wasn't Enough) - Interesting song. I'm not super blown away on the first go around, but I want to read the lyrics and decipher the meaning more. Time will tell where this fits in for MMJ's discography.

6. Magic Bullet - Come on? You know this song is definitely what you want to show your friend who is on the fence for coming to his/her first MMJ show. Loved seeing it live at Red Rocks and want it earlier in the setlist because it is head-banging.

7. Run It - We gotta get back to water man. Ya'll know everybody's gonna have a group singalong when we finally get back. I'm blown away by how he took the band in this direction. Maybe live it'll fit in In Its Infancy > Run It > Like a River?

8. Wasted - I really wanna hear this live with a backup choir like JJ's solo shows. Lights flashing everywhere when Jim's wailing on the guitar and Carl all of a sudden pulls out a sax? Taking the band to new heights, jamming finally like En La Ceremony. Maybe we'll get this with energy like the new I Think I'm Going to Hell or It's About Twilight Now?

9. Welcome Home - I should have known this song a long time ago. Happy I didn't because it makes this track so much better now. An MMJ album without an acoustic song is like 4th of July without a cold one. Something soothing that can slow the set down before picking us back up for another rollercoaster.

10. The First Time - Can't believe I was sleeping on this song for so long. Maybe songs like this aren't for everybody, but if you know the MMJ catalogue, you can't get enough of production like this. Jim's vocals and lyrics are super powerful and the guitars mix super well. Glad it's the closer for the album. If this song fits snug into the setlist after Steam Engine, I'd be super happy.

---    ---

Can't believe they kept these locked up for so long. Took a pandemic to let them out... Now we'll be spoiled with an inevitable new album and probably some more solo stuff. Glad I got to see them play all their older material before the new era of Jacket, but it's best for everybody to just accept they are transcending and finally releasing some badass, new shit. 

[CC]

Podcast interview about The Waterfall II and also the new-new album
https://consequenceofsound.net/2020/07/jim-james-my-morning-jacket-new-record

[roffrs]

I love it. Maybe it's newness bias, but count me in the Waterfall II>Waterfall I camp.

And it's cool to see this forum light up again! JohnnYYac and CC, thanks for being awesome.

[SaraBananaBear]

https://music.apple.com/us/album/the-waterfall-ii/1516417364

Great read, thanks for sharing!

[Woody]

Giving it a second listen this morning. Really good stuff. Always taking chances and keeping it fresh even when it's 5 years old. Jacket does it again. And the live potential on a bunch of these tunes is obvious. Welcome Home has been a fav for years. What a beautiful recording of that tune. Popping the headphones on for this one is a must. Thank you boys, we really needed this one!

[parkervb]

so, as you may recall, I was not exactly getting my hopes up for this one. I guess I wasn't excited to hear "b-sides". BUT, these are clearly NOT "b-sides". IMO, the only connection to The Waterfall is that they were recorded during those sessions or at least came out of those sessions. This album stands all on its own and demonstrates how much range they have from "modern honky-tonk" to 60s pop to heavy rock jams along with a song like Run It? Come on, who is pulling that off these days? 

[Jbpats]

What would be your 'perfect' Waterfall album if you can just take 10 tracks from both albums. Only needed one listen to #2 to know my album:
1. Believe
2.In it's Infancy
3. Get the point
4. Spring
5. Tropics
6. Feel You
7. Magic Bullet
8. Run it
9. Wasted
10. Welcome Home

Still Thinkin/The first time/only memories remain were all in the running for the 10 spot.

I think I like more songs on #2, but I LOVE more songs on #1 (if that makes sense).

[Nikkogino]

What would be your 'perfect' Waterfall album if you can just take 10 tracks from both albums. Only needed one listen to #2 to know my album:
1. Believe
2.In it's Infancy
3. Get the point
4. Spring
5. Tropics
6. Feel You
7. Magic Bullet
8. Run it
9. Wasted
10. Welcome Home

Still Thinkin/The first time/only memories remain were all in the running for the 10 spot.

I think I like more songs on #2, but I LOVE more songs on #1 (if that makes sense).

Welcome Home in the 10 spot is perfect.

[Jbpats]

What would be your 'perfect' Waterfall album if you can just take 10 tracks from both albums. Only needed one listen to #2 to know my album:
1. Believe
2.In it's Infancy
3. Get the point
4. Spring
5. Tropics
6. Feel You
7. Magic Bullet
8. Run it
9. Wasted
10. Welcome Home

Still Thinkin/The first time/only memories remain were all in the running for the 10 spot.

I think I like more songs on #2, but I LOVE more songs on #1 (if that makes sense).

Welcome Home in the 10 spot is perfect.

agreed but my list was just listing off the 10 tracks from each album I'd combine into one album.. didn't really think about placement.. but believe #1 and Welcome home #10 would work for me.

[Lucius]

I seem to be in a minority in this fanbase in that I actually really love The Waterfall 1. I only really dislike Thin Line (middle-8 aside) and Big D but the rest sit amongst my favourite Jacket songs. In Its Infancy is a top 10 track for sure, not that I've ever attempted a top 10 for MMJ! I just love how bright and synth-y a lot of it is.

Waterfall II is as I hoped growing on me rapidly. The sun is shining today and it's proving to be the perfect backdrop. Was a bit washed out last night so didn't end up giving it the 420 test. That comes tonight. Feel like this record will open right up with a little help from some Mary J!   

Very much interested in merging the two volumes together and playing around with the running order at some point too!

EDIT: can confirm that In Its Infancy > Feel You is a s*** hot combo!

[Easy Morning Rider]

Would echo everything people have already said. Can't get over how experimental/creative these songs are. Also please don't sleep on Climbing the Ladder. It's a jam.

Also, nice write up from Stereogum: https://www.stereogum.com/2090666/my-morning-jacket-waterfall-2-review/franchises/reviews/premature-evaluation/

[dookie shoot bandit]

What would be your 'perfect' Waterfall album if you can just take 10 tracks from both albums. Only needed one listen to #2 to know my album:
1. Believe
2.In it's Infancy
3. Get the point
4. Spring
5. Tropics
6. Feel You
7. Magic Bullet
8. Run it
9. Wasted
10. Welcome Home

Still Thinkin/The first time/only memories remain were all in the running for the 10 spot.

I think I like more songs on #2, but I LOVE more songs on #1 (if that makes sense).

Cool idea
Here would be mine

- In its Infancy
- Feel You
- Spring
- Climbing the Ladder
- Run It
- Big Decisions
- Wasted
- Tropics
- I Can't Wait
- Welcome Home

I have to say I'm liking the new one better than #1 as a whole album, already even after only a few listens