RadioIoJam.com - Z Review

[LaurieBlue]

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"z"
by my morning jacket

the road to their fourth album found my morning jacket maneuvering through uncharted territory, with the future of the band hazy and uncertain. the would-be reluctant poster boys for southern indie rock had come very close to finishing up with their last album it still moves, after a rigorous touring schedule had proven to be too much for original band members johnny quaid and danny cash. the new variation of the lineup - founder jim james (singer/guitarist/songwriter), two-tone tommy (bass), patrick callahan (drums), and new members bo koster (keyboardist), and carl broemel (guitar) decided abandon the grain silo in rural kentucky that had been the creative nest for their three previous albums in favor of upstate new york's allaire studios. they also sacrificed complete control of producing the album for an opportunity to work with veteran english producer john leckie (george harrison, radiohead, pink floyd).

the result of their tumultuous times is z, their most accomplished album to date, which has not only gained the praise of musicians and critics alike, but also drawn comparisons to neil young and radiohead. z has succeeded in capturing the otherworldly sound established on the tennessee fire and at dawn, minus the reverb-drenched vocals and southern-rock guitars that at times overwhelmed them. the spirit of reinvention has not changed their sound completely, but the ten song collection rocks and croons through a more toned-down version of my morning jacket, complete with the mass appeal of a new-found pop sound. for the first time, the music is not playing second fiddle to the sound of jim james' voice, saddling it with the limitations of trying not to overpower their trademark reverb. the autobiographical nature that was so prevalent in the tennessee fire has finally slowed to a stop with this album, there is very little that is evident of its soul-searching lyrics.

incorporating soul and hip-hop elements into a haunting classic-country foundation, the spontaneity and momentum of their live performances that won their initial fan base is still evident in the rough edges of "off the record" and loose vibrations "lay low". the sparse lullaby "knot comes loose" is reminiscent of 2002's chocolate and ice ep track "sooner" and the carnival ride background melody of "into the woods" resonates with the same ethereal nature that made it so engaging. the culmination of the album is the closing "dondante", a delicate seven-minute piece confirming that despite the band's location change, the sweet hum of their louisville roots is still just below the surface. combining a dense delivery with an air of elusiveness is what makes this album captivating; nothing is overstated or commonplace. by rejecting the safe haven of the southern slant in favor of a more accessible sound, they have achieved what looked like it would be impossible two years ago, crossover success while still maintaining their fan base and the integrity of their sound.