The Waterfall II

dookie shoot bandit · Jul 10, 2020, 10:59 AM

Quote from: Easy Morning Rider on Jul 10, 2020, 10:40 AMWould 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/

Agreed!
Really diggin this song

silentjay · Jul 10, 2020, 10:59 AM

I'm definitely in the WFII > WFI camp, this just feels like the kind of MMJ that was missing for me on Circuital and WF.

I do have to ask, why do Compound Fracture and Big D get such consistent hate (here and elsewhere)? Those are two of my favorites on WF1.

Brother Beck · Jul 10, 2020, 11:18 AM

Compound Fracture gets hate...??? That's always been one of my absolute favorites from Waterfall straight from the first time I heard it. The only criticism I have of the song is that the live arrangement is much better and feels less synthetic - but honestly what MMJ song isn't better live??? Album version is still great.

parkervb · Jul 10, 2020, 11:38 AM

Hyden's review (he's been pretty consistently a fan of their work)

https://uproxx.com/indie/my-morning-jacket-the-waterfall-ii-review/

the quote from his previous interview with Jim did not strike me as familiar though I know read that before. That was the most direct I recall him being about what he was feeling about the band and its workload during that time frame (2015)

Jbpats · Jul 10, 2020, 11:42 AM

Quote from: Brother Beck on Jul 10, 2020, 11:18 AMCompound Fracture gets hate...??? That's always been one of my absolute favorites from Waterfall straight from the first time I heard it. The only criticism I have of the song is that the live arrangement is much better and feels less synthetic - but honestly what MMJ song isn't better live??? Album version is still great.

I've personally never been a fan of compound fracture

derbydave · Jul 10, 2020, 11:43 AM

I really like how this albums flows & build up to Wasted...
Welcome Home & The First Time are great closers too!
Love how much Bo gets to shine on this album & stoked to hear these songs live.
I thought that Tom's post on Instagram was PERFECT:

https://www.instagram.com/p/CCdo3eVl2Tv/

Cameron · Jul 10, 2020, 12:07 PM

waterfall 1 took me a long time to get into...i really had to see it live. i'm digging this right away.

Brother Beck · Jul 10, 2020, 12:19 PM

Quote from: Cameron on Jul 10, 2020, 12:07 PMwaterfall 1 took me a long time to get into...i really had to see it live. i'm digging this right away.

I never got to see any of it played live, but I had to listen to the live versions of a few of the Waterfall tracks to really get them and end up loving them.

parkervb · Jul 10, 2020, 01:49 PM

i tell you one thing about this album:

Cameron · Jul 10, 2020, 01:58 PM

agree. bo is the mvp on this one.

RobRoy286 · Jul 10, 2020, 03:53 PM

This album is incredible.

ChiefOKONO · Jul 10, 2020, 04:15 PM

Thanks for sharing Tom's post... very well put!

Quote from: derbydave on Jul 10, 2020, 11:43 AMI really like how this albums flows & build up to Wasted...
Welcome Home & The First Time are great closers too!
Love how much Bo gets to shine on this album & stoked to hear these songs live.
I thought that Tom's post on Instagram was PERFECT:

https://www.instagram.com/p/CCdo3eVl2Tv/

ranyart · Jul 10, 2020, 08:19 PM

We watched the YouTube fun live and loved the songs. But I have to say I was totally blown away by the video which I felt had an old school MTV feel. I love Marin County and California in general and it was just plain awesome to see the visuals of our boys frolicking in one of my favorite places in the world, and it brought a whole new insight into these records with visuals that will stick with me every time I hear the songs.

Looking forward to what the future holds!

MPP · Jul 10, 2020, 09:14 PM

Quote from: ranyart on Jul 10, 2020, 08:19 PMWe watched the YouTube fun live and loved the songs. But I have to say I was totally blown away by the video which I felt had an old school MTV feel. I love Marin County and California in general and it was just plain awesome to see the visuals of our boys frolicking in one of my favorite places in the world, and it brought a whole new insight into these records with visuals that will stick with me every time I hear the songs.

Looking forward to what the future holds!

Nice observation about the MTV video feel. Love that area too, lived there 12 years. You can 'feel' Marin and Stinson Beach influences in much of WII, even more than Waterfall.

IMO this is could be another gateway album for them. Have a feeling lots of folks not familiar with Jacket, if they get the chance to hear it, will be drawn in. More accessible than earlier albums, but in a great complicated, inventive Jacket way. Gets better every play. If MTV was still here, they would be all over it ;-)

I'm replaying the YT video while still up. Funny stuff in the comments - some guy is arguing with Tucker Martine about the dateline of the songs, and telling Martine he's wrong. Lol

MMJCOBRA · Jul 11, 2020, 12:47 AM

Dug deep on the Waterfall II tonight. It's really almost too much for words, what an incredibly emotional, meticulously recorded album, with Bo, Tom, Jim, Carl and Patrick all performing at the top of their game!!!

Jbpats · Jul 11, 2020, 06:22 AM

Had the album on repeat yesterday, after the listening party I gave it a 6. The album is a solid 8/9.

I still think the first few songs are on the weaker side but Feel you to the end is just perfect.

Nikkogino · Jul 11, 2020, 06:33 AM

Run It seems to be a favorite on here. To me it is the most boring track. What am I missing? I don't dislike the song (and I am in love with the album)...I just feel like the song is super repetitive.

Jbpats · Jul 11, 2020, 07:31 AM

Quote from: Nikkogino on Jul 11, 2020, 06:33 AMRun It seems to be a favorite on here. To me it is the most boring track. What am I missing? I don't dislike the song (and I am in love with the album)...I just feel like the song is super repetitive.

Love it- super soulful, awesome piano, kind of reminds me of a vintage 70s feel good summer classic. Bill withers meets the band type song.
Also gives me some Dead vibes think Mississippi half step

Nikkogino · Jul 11, 2020, 08:41 AM

Quote from: Jbpats on Jul 11, 2020, 07:31 AM
Quote from: Nikkogino on Jul 11, 2020, 06:33 AMRun It seems to be a favorite on here. To me it is the most boring track. What am I missing? I don't dislike the song (and I am in love with the album)...I just feel like the song is super repetitive.

Love it- super soulful, awesome piano, kind of reminds me of a vintage 70s feel good summer classic. Bill withers meets the band type song.
Also gives me some Dead vibes think Mississippi half step

I love the piano in the middle of the song. The chorus portion at the end just goes too long IMO. I also think that my perception of the song is skewed because I thought he was saying "get back Kotter" for the last few days of listening. Thought this was a song about the 1970s classic sitcom "Welcome Back Kotter."

CountSA · Jul 11, 2020, 09:08 AM

Quote from: Nikkogino on Jul 11, 2020, 08:41 AM
Quote from: Jbpats on Jul 11, 2020, 07:31 AM
Quote from: Nikkogino on Jul 11, 2020, 06:33 AMRun It seems to be a favorite on here. To me it is the most boring track. What am I missing? I don't dislike the song (and I am in love with the album)...I just feel like the song is super repetitive.

Love it- super soulful, awesome piano, kind of reminds me of a vintage 70s feel good summer classic. Bill withers meets the band type song.
Also gives me some Dead vibes think Mississippi half step
I love the piano in the middle of the song. The chorus portion at the end just goes too long IMO. I also think that my perception of the song is skewed because I thought he was saying "get back Kotter" for the last few days of listening. Thought this was a song about the 1970s classic sitcom "Welcome Back Kotter."

I think he does throw in some "get back Kotter"s in there...anyways this is my favorite on the album. The groove, the harmonies, the lyrics, and the general flow of the song make this top notch for me.