My Morning Jacket

  Hello friends at MMJ,  I wrote a rather lengthy review of EU,  Comments are welcome!



    What is missing from Evil Urges?

     "Evil Urges", the highly anticipated new release from Louisville Kentucky's My Morning Jacket, is an interesting album to say the least.  
One thing that has always drawn me to this band is their unpredictability. After making three successive down-and-out, gut wrenching and haunting, reverb heavy  albums, (The Tennessee Fire, At Dawn, and their major label debut, It Still Moves) the band careened into an entirely new, more upbeat, more polished  direction with 2005's album simply titled "Z".    
    The band has always been carried first and foremost by the weight of singer/songwriter/guitarist Jim James' voice.   The first time I heard the opening line of "At Dawn", belted out in Jim's wounded soul wail, it literally brought tears to my eyes.    There was so much tragic, mysterious beauty in that voice that it instantly made me long for more.   Finally there was music that had meaning and beauty and poetry again!
     I was lucky enough to receive a copy of the acoustic performance Jim James and the gang did at the South By Southwest festival in Austin Texas in the spring of 2008.  The show was performed in  St. David's church in Austin, and the new material sounded perfect in that setting.   This was my first introduction to many of the new songs that would become Evil Urges.   "Sec Walkin'",  " Librarian" , "Thank You Too"  "Smokin' from Shootin'" all sounded great, beautiful and well worn,  even though Jim sounded exhausted and perhaps a little burned out in between some of the songs.  
  When I finally received a copy of Evil Urges, and heard the studio versions of those songs, honestly, I was tremendously let down.   "Walkin'" came off sounding like a James Taylor song from the 70's, too clean and overproduced for my taste.  None of the haunting beauty of "Librarian" was present in the studio version and in fact I think it sounds rather contrived.  The bass line from "Touch Me Part 1" sounds very similar to the one from "It Beats4 U" from Z.   (listen to them both back to back it is true!)    "Look At You" sounds like a song that would be heard on a cheesy Christian rock station.
"Touch Me Part 2" starts off like a song that was leftover from the Z sessions as well, with a keyboard part that is very similar to "Anytime"  then, breaks into a straight up disco beat.  
     In all fairness, it's not all bad and in fact there are many brilliant moments.   "Thank You Too" will always be the song for all the ladies in the house, and it really is a great and gorgeous tune.  "Smokin' from Shootin" is by far the most accessible song on the album and is classic MMJ.   "Aluminum Park" has really grown on me and it is a balls out rocker.     "I'm Amazed" is a very catchy, well crafted song.   Patrick Hallahan,  MMJ's drummer, really gets to show that he truly is a world class drummer on this album.
     Then of course, there is the song that will divide the MMJ faithful from this point forward, "Highly Suspicious".     Like your mother-in-law on Christmas, we are stuck with this song whether we like it or not.   The Prince-on-acid falsetto vocals with the guitar part borrowed heavily from Ton-Loc's   "Wild Thing"   and a chorus that sounds like the bad guys cartoon voices  on anime videos must be heard to be believed.    Once you get through the initial shock, it's actually a pretty cool song.  
   .  I am all for bands taking their music in new directions and I fully trust Jim James' ability to continue writing amazing, beautiful and meaningful music.    Also, this album is still a million times better than any of the other crap that is going to be force fed onto the masses this year.
   But what I really miss, more than anything else, about the old MMJ is the mystery.  Evil Urges is seriously lacking in the kind of nostalgic, yearning,  ghostly beauty that the first three albums had so much of that made me a fan of this band in the first place.  

Thanks for reading!
Daniel Wyant
sandworm30@yahoo.com

comments are welcomed? Really? OK

[size=16]When I finally received a copy of Evil Urges, and heard the studio versions of those songs, honestly, I was tremendously let down.[/size]

thanks for coming here and letting us know how let down you are by the new album. I was actually let down by your review.

...honestly, I was tremendously let down.

"Walkin'" came off sounding like a James Taylor song from the 70's, too clean and overproduced.

None of the haunting beauty of "Librarian" was present in the studio version and in fact I think it sounds rather contrived.

The bass line from "Touch Me Part 1" sounds very similar to the one from "It Beats4 U" from Z.

"Look At You" sounds like a song that would be heard on a cheesy Christian rock station.  

You know, I would think coming to a band's message board and telling everyone how the new release "tremendously let's you down" might be a bit uncool. But, I guess in this new age of everyone-is-a-qualified-critic-because-they-own-a-laptop-with-spell-check, it's just par for the course. hey, I have an idea, I think I will go to the center of the My Morning Jacket fan base, ignore the 47,000 other posts about how people feel regarding Evil Urges, and tell everyone how I think it "lets me down". What is the mind set behind that logic?

then there' this gem, my favorite of all wannabee rock journalists everywhere, from the dawn of time (drum roll please):

"Smokin' from Shootin" is by far the most [size=20]accessible[/size] song on the album and is classic MMJ.   accessible   accessible   accessible  accessible    AARRRRGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

And this piece of journalistic genius:  Then of course, there is the song that will divide the MMJ faithful from this point forward, "Highly Suspicious".
that's right, Highly Suspicious will divide all the fans in half  50/50. There will be arguing, and cursing, and gnashing of the teeth over Highly Suspicious! I just hope my wife and I agree on this b/c I would sure hate to see our marriage dissolved b/c of Highly Suspicious. Guess we'll see on the 10th.

Like your mother-in-law on Christmas, we are stuck with this song whether we like it or not. jeeez, that junior college creative writing class is really paying off!

your review is as predictable and boring as any review I have ever read. And to think you put a fraction of the time and energy that MMJ put into EU, yet you come here and say how "tremendously let down you are" and expect people just to roll over and accept your word as some sort of constructive/artistic/journalistic input? Hog vomit.

thumbs down on this review. It just wasn't mysterious enough. I am tremendously let down by your review of Evil Urges.

-welcome to the board-

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y3T_xczFl5A

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    The band has always been carried first and foremost by the weight of singer/songwriter/guitarist Jim James' voice.  

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really, I thought it was his songwriting, but if you say so  ::)

"
And this piece of journalistic genius:  Then of course, there is the song that will divide the MMJ faithful from this point forward, "Highly Suspicious".
that's right, Highly Suspicious will divide all the fans in half  50/50. There will be arguing, and cursing, and gnashing of the teeth over Highly Suspicious! I just hope my wife and I agree on this b/c I would sure hate to see our marriage dissolved b/c of Highly Suspicious. Guess we'll see on the 10th."

I was afraid this might be a problem. My homelife could be in trouble too Tracy. Finger's crossed.


"divide" "from this point forward"  that makes me laugh, thanks

Is that killerwolf like the Danzig song?

i say listen to the album straight through 5 more times and then come and write a review.

i was highly suspicious and disapointed at first also.

i also hated In Rainbows after just a few listens. now its my favorite record of all time practically.

albums like evil urges are growers. they need tender care. you cant rush in expecting to hear a bunch of reverb soaked jams.

Quote      What is missing from Evil Urges?

It's missing a brilliant review.

OH wait, it just got one.

Thank you so much.

QuoteIs that killerwolf like the Danzig song?

YES!!! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZEs0fwQ1VBU

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Quote      What is missing from Evil Urges?

It's missing a brilliant review.

OH wait, it just got one.

Thank you so much.

raaaaazor sharp

and you only used 15 words.

Thank ya thank ya

Anything to defend the (all holy) Jacket!

QuoteThen of course, there is the song that will divide the MMJ faithful from this point forward, "Highly Suspicious".

Please, please let me read your review of the Lord Of The Rings Trilogy.

QuoteWhat is the mind set behind that logic?

Mind?

Where?

Is this critique meant to be a taken as legit website and/or magazine type review? Just curious since the dude that wrote it seems to presented as such, at least where I'm sitting. I'll be writing a review of the album when it comes out for my website, but of course, I haven't heard the album yet and will happily wait until June 10th.

Why the hell does everyone decide that they can all-importantly cast out "Highly Suspicious"?!

From what I've heard this far, that song is ridiculous, funny, incredible, and will be basically this album's "What A Wonderful Man"--that song that's a fucking blast to play live!

Can't argue much with that, can you? Did you think they seriously meant it?! They're having fun! C'mon!

The Gonzo Journalist Music Critics said the same thing about Into The Woods.

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You know, I would think coming to a band's message board and telling everyone how the new release "tremendously let's you down" might be a bit uncool.

Why?  Is there a protocol for first posts?  He's a newbie who wants to get his thought and opinions out there.  Just like everybody else on the board.

QuoteBut, I guess in this new age of everyone-is-a-qualified-critic-because-they-own-a-laptop-with-spell-check, it's just par for the course. hey, I have an idea, I think I will go to the center of the My Morning Jacket fan base, ignore the 47,000 other posts about how people feel regarding Evil Urges, and tell everyone how I think it "lets me down". What is the mind set behind that logic?

I don't understand this mind set personally.  The guys posted a review, no need to shoot him down.  It's certainly no worse than many of the 'reviews' and critiques I've seen round these parts frankly that mostly fall into the gushing fan boy type variety.  Unsurprising given that this is a board for MMJ fans of course but still.

Quoteyour review is as predictable and boring as any review I have ever read. And to think you put a fraction of the time and energy that MMJ put into EU, yet you come here and say how "tremendously let down you are" and expect people just to roll over and accept your word as some sort of constructive/artistic/journalistic input? Hog vomit.

so because he hasn't slaved his ass off listening to it (how you can know this I don't know) he isn't entitled to his opinion that it's a let down?  Eh?  Me no understand.  MMJ aren't a holy cow you know.  Your comment makes you sound like some sad offended fan sticking up for his fave band simply because somebody has had the temerity to label their new album a let down who also happens to be a newbie.  That's his opinion and he doesn't need to justify it by putting as much time and energy that MMJ did into the record does he?  That's absurd logic.  It's not about rolling over and accepting his word is it?  It's just some guy expressing an opinion for crying out loud.  Albeit poorly.  Imo.

You can criticise them you know.  For example Honest Man is an execrable dirge that weighs down the otherwise wonderful At Dawn.  There, I said it.  In fact all their albums - cept Z - are too long and have some filler.  It Still Moves should have been a ten track all killer no filler album.  

And just to make the point clear I didn't rate the review either but I don't see the need to piss on the dudes parade.  

QuoteWhy the hell does everyone decide that they can all-importantly cast out "Highly Suspicious"?!

From what I've heard this far, that song is ridiculous, funny, incredible, and will be basically this album's "What A Wonderful Man"--that song that's a fucking blast to play live!

Can't argue much with that, can you? Did you think they seriously meant it?! They're having fun! C'mon!

Totally.  Some people take this shit way too seriously.  It's a goofy fun song that will kick ass live.  Its not Steam Engine but then it was never intended to be was it?  Lighten up people.  

I guess I just don't get reviews/critics period 'cause, as has been so succinctly pointed out here time and time again, music is such a personal thing. I appreciate people's opinions, and all, but my big thing is that I want to hear it for myself when the time comes. I don't want to think about Christian radio, poetry, accessible songs, or james taylor when I listen for the first time. not a huge fan of any of that shit. however, I do enjoy prince-on-acid, a straight up disco beat, the guitar part from Ton-Loc's   "Wild Thing", bad guys cartoon voices, balls, Patrick, all the ladies in the house, leftover from the Z sessions, weight, Jim James' voice, soul wail, the "It Beats4 U" bass line, my mother-in-law, the initial shock, and crap. so if all of this is any indication, I think I may just enjoy this studio album.

I think I know this guy. he's the one who pushes his way to the front of the crowd- and then stands there and talks loudly to his friends about what they like and dislike and where they are drinking after the show.

no offense, brah.

The thing I don't get about people hating on Highly Suspicious is this...

Did you people seriously miss out on the bands humor before you heard this song? It's ok when they cover Wham!, or Prince but when they write a catchy, funny song themselves all these people get all worked up about it? The song isn't supposed to be Steam Engine, seems to me they wanted to get their funk out and have a good time. THis song is going to floor people on this upcoming tour, and I believe like, 4 years from now when they bust it out people are going to go crazy. Seriously, if you didn't get their humor before this, it's not really whats missing from Evil Urges, it's whats missing from you.

i think the whole argument that blew up a few weeks ago about "newbies," etc is clearly magnified in the first post.

Sure, everyone can have an opinion. Not everyone will love everything the band does. But this forum, this place, is different. It began with only people who love everything the band does. And it flourished with those people and the community feeling they created. So the band becomes popular and more and more people know of them. But THIS place is still a santuary for those of us who want to remain positive and well, have fun.

When your first post is a hack writing piece that labors over "what is missing" rather than WHAT IS THERE, well, that just sucks.

If you were let down by the album, fine. Start a blog. Or send your review to Ben Fong-Torres. Why place it in a space that exudes love??

I'm befuddled.

Baba-booey.

Quotei think the whole argument that blew up a few weeks ago about "newbies," etc is clearly magnified in the first post.

Sure, everyone can have an opinion. Not everyone will love everything the band does. But this forum, this place, is different. It began with only people who love everything the band does. And it flourished with those people and the community feeling they created. So the band becomes popular and more and more people know of them. But THIS place is still a santuary for those of us who want to remain positive and well, have fun.

When your first post is a hack writing piece that labors over "what is missing" rather than WHAT IS THERE, well, that just sucks.

If you were let down by the album, fine. Start a blog. Or send your review to Ben Fong-Torres. Why place it in a space that exudes love??

I'm befuddled.

Baba-booey.

Right on Baba-booey!

I also think some review writers feel more powerful if they can give a bad review. So right from the start they are looking for "what is missing."

I have a review...killerwolf (Daniel Wyant) is a negative-nancy (sorry for the name-calling).

I know what Goat Boy is thinking...Pink Floyd Sucks ;D

Quotei think the whole argument that blew up a few weeks ago about "newbies," etc is clearly magnified in the first post.

Sure, everyone can have an opinion. Not everyone will love everything the band does. But this forum, this place, is different. It began with only people who love everything the band does.

Everything the band does?  That sounds like a statement of blind faith!  See, I don't get this attitude.  Look, I love The Jacket but I can view them critically as well.  They are not above criticism - nobody is - and I think that out of this real debate emerges.  Then again, I'm a bit of an iconoclast.

QuoteIf you were let down by the album, fine. Start a blog. Or send your review to Ben Fong-Torres. Why place it in a space that exudes love??

Well, why not?  This is a place for fans of the band and if some fans want to voice a contradictory opinion that goes against the love fest these places tend to be then that should be embraced imo.  This is a good thing.  After all we are ALL fans of the band and all viewpoints – positive and negative – should be heard, welcomed and debated.  It's just a shame the 'review' was, well, you know.

For the record I think Evil Urges is a grower.  Sure there's a couple of fillers but overall I'm happy and these songs will sound real fucking good when I see them in Amsterdam  8-)  

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I know what everybody is thinking...Pink Floyd Sucks ;D

Good lad.  My good taste is obviously rubbing off on people!  Small correction - Syd's Floyd rules.  Waters Floyd, well, you know, although I do like Rick Wright.  He always seemed like a nice chap and it's a shame he was bullied by that ogre Waters.  I listened to Remember A Day today and forgot how wonderful a song that is.  Great stuff.  

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Quotei think the whole argument that blew up a few weeks ago about "newbies," etc is clearly magnified in the first post.

Sure, everyone can have an opinion. Not everyone will love everything the band does. But this forum, this place, is different. It began with only people who love everything the band does.

Everything the band does?  That sounds like a statement of blind faith!  See, I don't get this attitude.  Look, I love The Jacket but I can view them critically as well.  They are not above criticism - nobody is - and I think that out of this real debate emerges.  Then again, I'm a bit of an iconoclast.

QuoteIf you were let down by the album, fine. Start a blog. Or send your review to Ben Fong-Torres. Why place it in a space that exudes love??

Well, why not?  This is a place for fans of the band and if some fans want to voice a contradictory opinion that goes against the love fest these places tend to be then that should be embraced imo.  This is a good thing.  After all we are ALL fans of the band and all viewpoints – positive and negative – should be heard, welcomed and debated.  It's just a shame the 'review' was, well, you know.

For the record I think Evil Urges is a grower.  Sure there's a couple of fillers but overall I'm happy and these songs will sound real fucking good when I see them in Amsterdam  8-)  

I think you've missed it completely. This is no ordinary band forum. This is no ordinary band.

I can't explain it as well as others here (Tracy, db, Meg, Conaway, Tom, etc, etc); you just have to know. It is blind faith. I will follow them to the ends of the earth. They did something for my wife and I that is beyond words, and I will be forever grateful . And this forum, and the people here that I have come to know over the years-- I will be forever grateful as well.


Viva La Jacket!

Fa-Fa Flo-high

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Quote


I know what everybody is thinking...Pink Floyd Sucks ;D

Good lad.  My good taste is obviously rubbing off on people!  Small correction - Syd's Floyd rules.  Waters Floyd, well, you know, although I do like Rick Wright.  He always seemed like a nice chap and it's a shame he was bullied by that ogre Waters.  I listened to Remember A Day today and forgot how wonderful a song that is.  Great stuff.  

Richard Wright's "Broken China" is a snorefest...

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I think you've missed it completely.

Clearly.

QuoteThis is no ordinary band forum. This is no ordinary band.

Otherwise this would be the Razorlight forum!

QuoteI can't explain it as well as others here (Tracy, db, Meg, Conaway, Tom, etc, etc); you just have to know. It is blind faith. I will follow them to the ends of the earth. They did something for my wife and I that is beyond words, and I will be forever grateful . And this forum, and the people here that I have come to know over the years-- I will be forever grateful as well.

Is your post serious?  I've not been here long enough to know I'm afraid.  Put it this way – as a kid growing up I used to love REM.  Then they became total shit.  So I stopped listening.  I don't follow any band blindly.  Why would you?  If MMJ become shit one day then I'll stop listening to their new records and only listen to the good stuff.  Blind faith is never a good thing.  

[size=20]evil   ges[/size]
what's missing?
[size=20]ur[/size]

QuoteThe thing I don't get about people hating on Highly Suspicious is this...

Did you people seriously miss out on the bands humor before you heard this song? It's ok when they cover Wham!, or Prince but when they write a catchy, funny song themselves all these people get all worked up about it? The song isn't supposed to be Steam Engine, seems to me they wanted to get their funk out and have a good time. THis song is going to floor people on this upcoming tour, and I believe like, 4 years from now when they bust it out people are going to go crazy. Seriously, if you didn't get their humor before this, it's not really whats missing from Evil Urges, it's whats missing from you.

I agree with this, and I really enjoy listening to the Kool & Gang/Lionel Richie/Wham!/Prince run from the New Year's show.  I am not opposed to them writing this song or playing it in concert.  However, some would argue that putting it on the album royally screws with the flow and it would be better as an extra/b-side.  I haven't heard the whole album yet, but after listening to the song on the SXSW stream, I imagine it does stick out like a sore thumb on the record.  

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I think you've missed it completely.

Clearly.

QuoteThis is no ordinary band forum. This is no ordinary band.

Otherwise this would be the Razorlight forum!

QuoteI can't explain it as well as others here (Tracy, db, Meg, Conaway, Tom, etc, etc); you just have to know. It is blind faith. I will follow them to the ends of the earth. They did something for my wife and I that is beyond words, and I will be forever grateful . And this forum, and the people here that I have come to know over the years-- I will be forever grateful as well.

Is your post serious?  I've not been here long enough to know I'm afraid.  Put it this way – as a kid growing up I used to love REM.  Then they became total shit.  So I stopped listening.  I don't follow any band blindly.  Why would you?  If MMJ become shit one day then I'll stop listening to their new records and only listen to the good stuff.  Blind faith is never a good thing.  

Is your post serious?  You say "I don't follow any band blindly.  Why would you?"  Didn't you say earlier something along the lines of different people have different opinions?  You're telling someone they shouldn't do something because you don't???

It seems like you just like to start shit.  Is that you purpose here?

Quote[size=20]evil   ges[/size]
what's missing?
[size=20]ur[/size]

8-)


p.s. Is that Tesla in your avatar?

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Quote[size=20]evil   ges[/size]
what's missing?
[size=20]ur[/size]

8-)


p.s. Is that Tesla in your avatar?

actually, it is mark twain in tesla's lab... mr. t may be in the background, there

Whatchoo know bout Mark Twain and Tesla?

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And just to make the point clear I didn't rate the review either but I don't see the need to piss on the dudes parade.  

He asked for comments, so I gave him comments. No need to read between the lines, take it for what it is.

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I think you've missed it completely.

Clearly.

QuoteThis is no ordinary band forum. This is no ordinary band.

Otherwise this would be the Razorlight forum!

QuoteI can't explain it as well as others here (Tracy, db, Meg, Conaway, Tom, etc, etc); you just have to know. It is blind faith. I will follow them to the ends of the earth. They did something for my wife and I that is beyond words, and I will be forever grateful . And this forum, and the people here that I have come to know over the years-- I will be forever grateful as well.

Is your post serious?  I've not been here long enough to know I'm afraid.  Put it this way – as a kid growing up I used to love REM.  Then they became total shit.  So I stopped listening.  I don't follow any band blindly.  Why would you?  If MMJ become shit one day then I'll stop listening to their new records and only listen to the good stuff.  Blind faith is never a good thing.  

Is your post serious?  You say "I don't follow any band blindly.  Why would you?"  Didn't you say earlier something along the lines of different people have different opinions?  You're telling someone they shouldn't do something because you don't???

It seems like you just like to start shit.  Is that you purpose here?

My Morning Jacket is one of those bands that speaks to me. Like Bob Mould, Rush, Stephen Malkmus and others, I am drawn to their music and I buy all their releases. Is every one of these artists' songs the greatest songs ever? Absolutely not, and I don't listen to some of their songs b/c they do not appeal to me. Do I reach out to other fans and talk about these songs that do not move me? Ummmm, duuhhh, no.

The idea of people sitting around critcizing music makes my skin crawl. People who say things like "I used to love REM.  Then they became total shit," are obviously pretentious people who are going to educate me (once again, for the 10,000,000th time) what music is good and what music is bad and what music I should and should not like, b/c they know what good music is; they are the holders of all that is sacred in regards to musical taste and if I happen to like an REM song off REVEAL, then I am an idiot and have no taste in music. Heard it, heard it, heard it, heard it....not interested.

>>imagining how this conversation with Michael Stipe might pan out: "Hey Michael, I really loved Chronic Town, Murmur, Reckoning, Fables of the Reconstruction, Life's Rich Pageant, Document, Green, Out of Time, Automatic for the People, Monster, and New Adventures in Hi-Fi, but, lately your music is shit". Is there a reson I would not say this to Michael Stipe? Wait! Think a minute before you answer. I understand that 15 years of solid music is really not that big of a deal; that anyone of us could just shit that stuff out....  think about it.

Take my brother in law, the jazz pianist, went to Berkley and studied with some jazz greats. He tells me My Morning Jacket is shit (and he did). So what did I do? Well, of course, I saw the errors of my ways and stopped listening to MMJ and I let my brother in law educate me on the merits and quality of music. So now I know. MMJ is shit, b/c my brother in law, who is a fantastic piano player, said so. However, he likes Smoke on the Water by Deep Purple b/c he played it in a high school jazz funk outfit.
I am pretty confident that he is the end all be all when it comes to what good music is.

give me a break.  

I own 22 RUSH albums everyone, and when I listen to it, I listen to it LOUD on my expensive as hell hi-fidelity stereo system and it makes me feel [size=20]G O O D[/size]
Kiss my ass   :-*

(http://images.teamsugar.com/files/usr/0/3620/rush_1.preview.jpg)

    Speaking of Danzig songs..has anyone heard the smokin' version of "How the Gods Kill" that was covered by none other than, My Morning Jacket?   Or their cover of the Misfits "Attitude"..  Jim definitely digs Danzig.   The first line of "Into the Woods" "A kitten on fire, baby in a blender"  has a ring of Danzig's morbid humor to it.
   I honestly didn't expect people on this page to be so..well...narrow minded.   Let me set a few things straight.  I LOVE this band.  It has moved me and touched me in ways I  didnt think were possible in music anymore.  I'm sure my reasons for loving this band are different from other people's, that everyone should have their own unique experiences with this and all music.  I am certainly not here to tell people how to experience music, simply sharing my own experiences if anyone cares to hear.
   I have very very high expectations from MMJ to continue making the most important music in recent memory.    I still pre-ordered a real copy of EU, and I am still going to listen to it, love much of it.  I am still going to be the first motherfucker on my block to get tickets for the upcoming shows in my area.  
  Also, it seems that my point has been well proven that "Highly Suspicious" has indeed divided people.   Even on this post alone, no two people can agree on that song and it ignites controversy whenever it is brought up.  It keeps people talking about MMJ.   I think that is great for the band.  
  Oh yeah, Tracy, your wife probably wont divorce you over Highly Suspcious, Hopefully she will realize what a self-righteous arrogant cock you are  and she will divorce you for that.  

Quote   Speaking of Danzig songs..has anyone heard the smokin' version of "How the Gods Kill" that was covered by none other than, My Morning Jacket?   Or their cover of the Misfits "Attitude"..  Jim definitely digs Danzig.   The first line of "Into the Woods" "A kitten on fire, baby in a blender"  has a ring of Danzig's morbid humor to it.
   I honestly didn't expect people on this page to be so..well...narrow minded.   Let me set a few things straight.  I LOVE this band.  It has moved me and touched me in ways I  didnt think were possible in music anymore.  I'm sure my reasons for loving this band are different from other people's, that everyone should have their own unique experiences with this and all music.  I am certainly not here to tell people how to experience music, simply sharing my own experiences if anyone cares to hear.
   I have very very high expectations from MMJ to continue making the most important music in recent memory.    I still pre-ordered a real copy of EU, and I am still going to listen to it, love much of it.  I am still going to be the first motherfucker on my block to get tickets for the upcoming shows in my area.  
  Also, it seems that my point has been well proven that "Highly Suspicious" has indeed divided people.   Even on this post alone, no two people can agree on that song and it ignites controversy whenever it is brought up.  It keeps people talking about MMJ.   I think that is great for the band.  
  Oh yeah, Tracy, your wife probably wont divorce you over Highly Suspcious, Hopefully she will realize what a self-righteous arrogant cock you are  and she will divorce you for that.  

oh my! See how the critic responds to criticism! See how he is entitled to call the new MMJ "James Taylor-esque" and "cheesy Christian rock", but when I critique his review (by invitation, mind you) I am a self-righteous arrogant cock.  ;D

you, of course, can piss on MMJ, but it's a little different when someone pisses on your efforts, huh? Feels shitty? Hey, but at least I didn't compare you to some "cheesy Christian reporter". Time to grow up and figure out how to dish it out and take it.

1 suggestion for the future: If you do not want comments on what you post, please don't ask people to comment. My guess that you saying "Comments are welcome" is disingenuous. My comments, however, were not.

Walk the walk.

(http://d.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/ap/20080324/capt.60fb23c306e247399198fcb1102c7577.bush_whgh101.jpg)

I was looking for that picture of the bunny hitting the bong, found this one instead...

this is all a bit silly, isn't it??  you guys are not making yers elves look so hot to a band that expects it's fanbase to not take it to this level!!!  c'mon, it's disappointing and discouraging...separate yers elves from the rest of the gong show shit like this you  see ever where on the interweb....after all, you are mmj fans, aren't you???  what if i say (NOW) i think the "year in review" is completely horrible, would any response be necessary??  pull it together, and don't let my "lurking" make me feel dirty and ashamed...my wife LOVES Ween, but i don't like highly suspicious, either...you guys is better 'n all this crap...oh yeah....

www.myspace.com/thehellsayers

Quotethis is all a bit silly, isn't it??  you guys are not making yers elves look so hot to a band that expects it's fanbase to not take it to this level!!!  c'mon, it's disappointing and discouraging...separate yers elves from the rest of the gong show shit like this you  see ever where on the interweb....after all, you are mmj fans, aren't you???  what if i say (NOW) i think the "year in review" is completely horrible, would any response be necessary??  pull it together, and don't let my "lurking" make me feel dirty and ashamed...my wife LOVES Ween, but i don't like highly suspicious, either...you guys is better 'n all this crap...oh yeah....

www.myspace.com/thehellsayers

I'm not sure I understand what you're saying, but I agree.

Quote

Quotethis is all a bit silly, isn't it??  you guys are not making yers elves look so hot to a band that expects it's fanbase to not take it to this level!!!  c'mon, it's disappointing and discouraging...separate yers elves from the rest of the gong show shit like this you  see ever where on the interweb....after all, you are mmj fans, aren't you???  what if i say (NOW) i think the "year in review" is completely horrible, would any response be necessary??  pull it together, and don't let my "lurking" make me feel dirty and ashamed...my wife LOVES Ween, but i don't like highly suspicious, either...you guys is better 'n all this crap...oh yeah....

www.myspace.com/thehellsayers

I'm not sure I understand what you're saying, but I agree.

ditto...you guys need to lighten up. Go smoke a fatty and come back when you are all smiles. ;)

I understand people having their own taste, but if you are a MMJ fan you should be crazy happy that their new album will be out in less than a month...not to mention MMJ is a live band who is about to launch a sweet tour. The Grateful Dead had many studio albums, but I love them because they new how to play live.

Thank you, Tracy. The above posts are why i love and respect the hell out of you!!!

Quote
Is your post serious?  You say "I don't follow any band blindly.  Why would you?"  Didn't you say earlier something along the lines of different people have different opinions?  You're telling someone they shouldn't do something because you don't???

It seems like you just like to start shit.  Is that you purpose here?

Blind faith is a suspension of logic and rational thought in the face of contradictory evidence.  An opinion is based on more substantial grounds than purely blind faith which is what I was referring to.  And no, I am not here to cause shit.  

Quote

My Morning Jacket is one of those bands that speaks to me. Like Bob Mould, Rush, Stephen Malkmus and others, I am drawn to their music and I buy all their releases. Is every one of these artists' songs the greatest songs ever? Absolutely not, and I don't listen to some of their songs b/c they do not appeal to me. Do I reach out to other fans and talk about these songs that do not move me? Ummmm, duuhhh, no.

You are a collector and a completist.  I'm not see.  I don't buy something unless I like it.  They 'do not appeal to you'?  What does that mean?  Isn't that just a different way of saying they are a bit shit in your opinion?   I love The Beatles but I don't listen to Run For Your Life because it doesn't 'appeal to me' i.e. because it's fucking shit frankly.  Ditto Maxwells Silver Hammer etc.  Beatles in writing shit song shocker!  It did happen.  I mean praise and criticism arent mutually exclusive you know?  I love the groove of Under My Thumb even if its misogyny is utterly reprehensible.  Ditto Stupid Girl.  So you own all Rush's albums but some don't appeal to you as much as Hemispheres or 2112, right?  Why can't you just say they are average records or that certain songs are, gulp, not very good in your opinion instead of using a cop out like 'they don't appeal to me'?  Jeez, why so scared to criticise?  Why so uptight about it?  Why so precious?

QuoteThe idea of people sitting around critcizing music makes my skin crawl.

Here we go.  This is a thing with you isn't it?  Why does it bother you so much?  Is it only music criticism that bothers you or does literary, art and film criticism bothers you as well?  The internet is full of messgaeboards with people doing exactly that I'm afraid.  It is as just as valid as enthusing about something and most people find it a lot easier to criticise and say why they don't like something then explain why they do like a certain record.  This is perfectly natural.  Should music only be praised and lauded?  Well obviously not so what exactly does that statement mean?  Does it bother you if people slag off The Jacket or Rush?  Why so personal?  If the very idea of complete strangers slagging off bands and records makes your skin crawl then the internet must be hard going for you!  Or are you coming from the Frank Zappa writing about music is stoopid school of thought?    

QuotePeople who say things like "I used to love REM.  Then they became total shit," are obviously pretentious people who are going to educate me (once again, for the 10,000,000th time) what music is good and what music is bad and what music I should and should not like, b/c they know what good music is; they are the holders of all that is sacred in regards to musical taste and if I happen to like an REM song off REVEAL, then I am an idiot and have no taste in music. Heard it, heard it, heard it, heard it....not interested.

Obviously pretentious people?  Don't be daft man.  You're inferring that there are other motives behind a statement like that as if I am doing it too look cool or something.  You cannot possibly know that can you?    There is no pretension in that statement at all so to suggest that people i.e. ME who say similar things are 'obviously' pretentious is your desperate interpretation so you can go off on a little insecure strop. The idea that these people are somehow trying to educate you, again, is your inference and nothing in that statement suggests that.  You took that particular ball and ran with it yourself.  I merely said that I used to love REM then they went a bit shit so I, funnily enough, went off them.  Where is the pretension?  People who say things like 'X' are therefore Y.  We don't live in a black and white world.  You're accusing me of arrogantly trying to ramrod my opinion down your throat and yet your labeling me 'obviously pretentious' based on that?!  You obviously do value your opinion quite highly when it manages to convince yourself that people are such and such based on a simple statement - I used to love X but then they became shit imo so now I don't.  Pretentious?

There are good songs on Reveal but it's the production that spoils it.  Ditto Up.  These albums sound like pastiches at times and find a band clearly facing a loss of identity after Berry's departure.  Witness the Pet Sounds wannabe At My Most Beautiful that sounds like second rate High Llamas rather than REM.  Around The Sun was wretched.   So of course you are not an idiot for liking song/s off average or shit albums.  Nothing in my post suggests this does it?  In the same way shit bands can have good songs as well.  For example Girls Girls Girls by the otherwise horrendous Motley Crue.  I am a music snob - everybody is to certain degrees otherwise we'd listen to any old shit - but I am quite happy to listen to Pharoh Sanders or Cluster as I am Girls Aloud or Toxic by Britney Spears.  How good is Umbrella by Rihanna eh?  

Quote>>imagining how this conversation with Michael Stipe might pan out: "Hey Michael, I really loved Chronic Town, Murmur, Reckoning, Fables of the Reconstruction, Life's Rich Pageant, Document, Green, Out of Time, Automatic for the People, Monster, and New Adventures in Hi-Fi, but, lately your music is shit". Is there a reson I would not say this to Michael Stipe? Wait! Think a minute before you answer. I understand that 15 years of solid music is really not that big of a deal; that anyone of us could just shit that stuff out....  think about it.

Think about what exactly?  I'm not bitter that REM turned shit.  Your post makes me sound like some angry fan who expects blood from his idols and is actually ungrateful when they turn out shit product like they owe me.  "but Stipey, I know you've given us some great music over the years but this new one just isn't good enough, you've ruined my life you prick!" Not at all, they don't owe me jack shit and I'm grateful for the memories Stipe and co.  Murmur and Reckoning will always have a place in my heart.  The others far less so these days.  My post was merely questioning someone's blind faith which is a perfectly reasonable line of debate to pursue is it not?    

QuoteI own 22 RUSH albums everyone, and when I listen to it, I listen to it LOUD on my expensive as hell hi-fidelity stereo system and it makes me feel [size=20]G O O D[/size]

Knock yourself out Mr High Fidelity!   What with all your Rush albums and your expensive as hell hi fidelity stereo system whilst others slum it with our cheap music systems....  

QuoteKiss my ass   :-*

I would kiss your ass but it's so big and cumbersome that I wouldn't where to start frankly and the whiff of heavy sulphur is making me wretch somewhat ;-)

Quotei.e. because it's fucking shit frankly.  Ditto Maxwells Silver Hammer

Are you kidding?!! I love Maxwells Silver Hammer!!! Abbey Road is my fav Beatles album & there isn't a single second of it that I don't like!  :)

QuoteAre you kidding?!! I love Maxwells Silver Hammer!!! Abbey Road is my fav Beatles album & there isn't a single second of it that I don't like!  :)

Even "Octopus's Garden"?!  Abbey Road is my favourite Beatles album too, and one of my all-time favourites, but I always skip that one.  ;D

oi vey!  such a difference of opinions...about opinions.

goat boy, i don't think there's a real need to let the debate descend into a pissing contest - unless that's your purpose, of course.  seems like it is, IMHO.  

so, back to the topic:  what is missing from EU?  well, having not heard the whole record, i can't say for sure.   of the songs i've heard, nothing is.  it is what it is -  a My Morning Jacket record.  It sounds like a huge sound progression for them, but ultimately it sounds like My Morning Jacket.  They have the unique ability to put their own sound and stamp on the ever widening funnel of influences they've absorbed over the years.   To this wizened listener, I can't believe I'm hearing the same band after almost eight years of albums and shows - but it is the same band.  (at it's core, of course-I'm well aware of the lineup changes).

Every record is an exciting chance to hear how Jim and co. have grown, matured, and evolved from those thrift store kids I saw all those years ago bashing out Cromagnon versions of "The Bear" and "Heartbreakin' Man", almost skeletal in their forms - to the fully fleshed out beasts of "Run Thru" and "Gideon".  Now, almost a decade later, we've got "Evil Urges" (the track) which sounds like the Wizard of Oz has transported the band into Mesopotamia circa 2000 BC and they opened a head shop for tranny belly dancers high on morphine, and brought those very dancers back to the future so they could all go disco dancing.

Yeah.  :)

Haha, I love Octopuses Garden & often put it on my summer mixtapes.

goat boy, I can see you love the tit for tat, but I am bored with it.

You rant and rave how you could never be percieved of as pretentious, then the next paragraph you call yourself a music snob. You should perhaps think that through a little more, you unpretentious snob you. Not everyone is a "music snob" to a certain degree, like you say. Get your language straight. Just b/c the Mona Lisa doesn't appeal to me (and it doesn't, I don't get it) doesn't mean I am an art snob and it also doesn't mean the Mona Lisa is shit. It means the Mona Lisa doesn't appeal to me, however, I respect the fact that other's love it. The same goes for the MMJ song They Ran, a song that does not appeal to me, but out of respect for those who love it, I don't think it's shit or call it shit. I just don't think it's my job to tell you how shitty a song is that you might love (and part of the magic is to see the beauty in your enjoyment of it). Don't you understand that?


(http://txpage.org/fork.jpg)

yeah...they've really gone downhill since "the funeral" ;)

come on. you can't join this forum and post a "review" of an album from a band we all love and expect people not to get upset about it. and you can't say hateful shit to other members and expect us all to welcome you with open arms.

i am looking forward to hearing evil urges in its entirety. the ONLY thing missing from this album is my owning it, and this will be remedied on june 10th.

oh, and don't diss tracy, rush, or the beatles. even "octopus' garden." these things are all awesome, and this subject is not up for further debate.  :)

group hug.
:-*

Hey....let's talk some politics!  ;D

:o  :o  :o  :o  :o  :o  :o  :o  :o  :o

Quote

Hey....let's talk some politics!  ;D

:o  :o  :o  :o  :o  :o  :o  :o  :o  :o

Obama is da man.  ;)

QuoteWhatchoo know bout Mark Twain and Tesla?

<teenage b-girl singing>
whatchoo know bout me, whatchoo whatchoo know bout me...my mark twain is cool, my tesla is poppin'...

Quote

QuoteWhatchoo know bout Mark Twain and Tesla?

<teenage b-girl singing>
whatchoo know bout me, whatchoo whatchoo know bout me...my mark twain is cool, my tesla is poppin'...

;D  My 3 year old loves that song!  Lip gloss be poppin'!

Quote

Quote

Hey....let's talk some politics!  ;D

:o  :o  :o  :o  :o  :o  :o  :o  :o  :o

Obama is da man.  ;)

No way......Jim James for President!!

:)

Quote

Quote

Quote

Quote

Hey....let's talk some politics!  ;D

:o  :o  :o  :o  :o  :o  :o  :o  :o  :o

Obama is da man.  ;)

but then there couldn't be a tour...no way!

No way......Jim James for President!!

:)

Of course there can be a tour! It will be renamed the Evil Urges campaign tour!!

I actually have a copy of the entire album. What I will say is there are some very good and some very BAD songs. What I don't understand is Jim said they had over 20 songs and they filtered some out because they didn't belong. Really? Because the 2 tracks "Remnants" and "Two Halves" could have been tossed for anything else! If you thought that Z was overproduced pop music, you ain't heard nothing. Everything else is pretty original.

Wow...

    This kind of post is the reason I dont post here any more.  I've been a member for a long while now,  maybe about a year before It Still Moves came out.  Back then, this was a board where everyone and anyone could state their opinions about stuff, whether it be MMJ's music, or anyone else's music for that matter. But since, I'd say around the release of Z,  this board has become a place of rabid MMJ fanboyism.
    Lets take a look at  this whole post.  Killerwolf posted his review of Evil Urges. Innocent enough. Sure, he is a 'newbie' on the board, but all he did was post his opinion.  When this album releases,  people will be post either links or cut'n'pasting a bunch of reviews onto this website just like you folks did when Z came out.  Good and bad reviews at that. I think the overall review was positive.  He didn't like some songs, liked a bunch of others; whatever.  Did everyone skip where he wrote "this album is still a million times better than any of the other crap that is going to be force fed onto the masses this year"?  Why is everyone hung up on him saying that sometihng is missing?  There is something missing from the mix, afterall.  Its that intoxicationg reverb that the reviewer remembers so fondly on the 1st 3 albums.  I dont think anyone here would deny that the overall sound from MMJ has changed a bit from At Dawn to this album (though I have only heard what has been released. I'm not a downloader.)
    The very next post, Tracy comes on the attack.  Tracy nowhere does the reviewer say that the ALBUM tremendously let him down. Her was refering to particular songs.  It seems that as soon as you heard any negativety you had to jump on the defensive. Why? I mean, your not in the band,  and its just one persons opinion.  I appriciate the OP views on the album, and I am a part of their fan base. Wether you like it or not, the review was exactly what you implied it wasnt; constructive input.  Later on in this thread, you state the the OP 'pissed on MMJ".  How so?   By posting a review?  You make fun of the guy for not being able to dish it out and take it.  He wasn't dishing it out to you, or anyone for that mater. He wrote a review, which obviously you can not take. Walk the walk indeed.
    As for everyone saying he's ragging on Highly Suspicious, if you read the review he doesn't do that at all.  He said he LIKES the song.  He is just pointing out that it extremely odd and not like your average MMJ track.  I've heard the live version and I am divided on it myseld.  It is extremely goofy;  I am very curious as to how it sounds on the album.
    Upstatestruggler posts that she thinks she knows this (type of)guy.  How do you gather that from a review of an album.  If I posted a review of Z it would not be a glowing review of an album that in infallible;  there a songs I like and dont like on it, same as the OP here feels about Evil Urges.  Does that mean I'M that kind of guy? I'm not.  I am the guy that gets there early stays at front up against the state, and rocks the hell out.   If you dont like reviews, dont read them.  That would prevent you from listening to a new album and hearing what a reviewer is talking about.
    EVIL coltrane URGES writes that everyone can have an opinion.  Why is this place different?  Did everyone love everything the band did back in the day? Really? I rember several posts 'back in the day'  that were about tracks off of MMJ albums that we did Not like, even back then.  This board is not a cult.  There is not a club fee. Its a MMJ message board.  We can post what we feel. Nowhere does it say 'only post if you love every single thing that MMJ has released."   Saying that this board is a place for only people 'who want to remain positive and have fun' is pretty ellitist of you.  Let people post their opinions without giving them a hard time.  This IS a ordinary band forum.  Dont think this place is anymore than that.  is MMJ an ordinary band?  Well thats up to your own OPINION.
    Goat boy was just defending the OP opinion which he has a right to, johnconaway.  Maybe he is letting it descend into a pissing contest,  but Tracy is just as guilty of that.  Why do people on this board always feel the need to defend the other 'long timers' here, but get all bent out of shape when someone else defends a newbie? I'm sure that I'll be attacked and picked apart for this post, and thats fine I guess. It's something I've grown to expect from a handful of you folks.
    All in all, this was just a review. An opinion of an album. get over yourselves; you are not a member of the band.  You are one of many that belongs to a board for your favorite band.  Others here may not like everything MMJ does, and thats ok.  Let them post about it without attacking them.  I am, as we all are, looking forward to the new album, and I will more than likely post my opinions of the album here when it comes out. I hope you do too.  
Keep on rockin.

PapaJoeBear

Amen. Where have you been all my life. Fanboyism to 3rd degree around here sometimes.  Oh My God!! You better not say anything negative about the or their music!!
This board is so fucking one sided.

QuoteAmen. Where have you been all my life. Fanboyism to 3rd degree around here sometimes.  Oh My God!! You better not say anything negative about the or their music!!
This board is so fucking one sided.

I can't stand all of these fans who are supportive of their favorite band and get annoyed at critical reviews of stolen, unreleased material, either.

::)

That is assuming the OP didn't get a promo copy of the album, right Ewok? I mean, he states that "When I finally recieved a copy of Evil Urges".  Never does he suggest he downloaded the leaked copy.   Promos are out all over the place now, and tons of people get them.  My buddy who writes reviews had recieved a copy of It Still Moves a month or so before it was released, and let me listen to it a few times.  Just saying, dont assume this was an illegally downloaded copy.
Carry on.

QuoteThat is assuming the OP didn't get a promo copy of the album, right Ewok?

It's just that very few people I know who do have a promo copy have said much of anything about it, so my assumption is always that if the review isn't made by a professional, then it was listened to without the band's consent.

You are right, though.

I have been humbled.

QuoteYou make fun of the guy for not being able to dish it out and take it.  He wasn't dishing it out to you, or anyone for that mater. He wrote a review, which obviously you can not take. Walk the walk indeed.

[size=24]He asked for comments, so I gave him comments.[/size]
Why is that so hard to grasp? God, please don't have this board turn into politically correct heaven.

sometimes I am insensitive to the needs of others

PJB, I was a member here before you and my approach has always been the same; come here and make fun of MMJ, and in turn I will make fun of you. No big deal really, and it's sort of all in fun. If you say a MMJ song sounds like cheesy Christian rock, then I will fire back. No one is hurt, are they? I'm just poking back.

WORDS ON THE INTERNET people; nothing more than that.   :)

sometimes my sarcasm fails to show through

sensitive people, I am freaking harmless. But your first post on a band's web site is to talk about how much the music lets you down, sounds like James Taylor, sounds like Z re-hash, sounds like cheesy Christian rock, and you get your panties in a wad b/c I fire back? For the life of me I cannot grasp how someone trashes a band's music on their fan forum and then just expects things to be all hunky dory and not catch an ounce of shit (and after asking for comments!) I swear, I just do not get that.

sometimes I type like a crazy person and just post whatever is there

If I were to see killerwolf at a show, I would shake his hand, give him shit about his comments (and hopefully he would give me shit back), and buy him a beer , and then hopefully rock out with him.

Do people here really take this shit like I feel like they're taking it? Some thicker skin would be much appreciated. I really don't get it, I guess.

lighten up, this is waaaay beyond silly; isn't it?

I'll try to be nicer

welcome to the board

(http://www.uab.edu/images/isoph/websiteimages/test/smitherman/Images/flag-american.jpg)

I like James Taylor.  :-/

Quote

QuoteYou make fun of the guy for not being able to dish it out and take it.  He wasn't dishing it out to you, or anyone for that mater. He wrote a review, which obviously you can not take. Walk the walk indeed.

[size=24]He asked for comments, so I gave him comments.[/size]
Why is that so hard to grasp? God, please don't have this board turn into politically correct heaven.

PJB, I was a member here before you and my approach has always been the same; come here and make fun of MMJ, and in turn I will make fun of you. No big deal really, and it's sort of all in fun. If you say a MMJ song sounds like cheesy Christian rock, then I will fire back. No one is hurt, are they? I'm just poking back.

WORDS ON THE INTERNET people; nothing more than that.   :)

sensitive people, I am freaking harmless. But your first post on a band's web site is to talk about how much the music lets you down, sounds like James Taylor, sounds like Z re-hash, sounds like cheesy Christian rock, and you get your panties in a wad b/c I fire back?

If I were to see killerwolf at a show, I would shake his hand, give him shit about his comments (and hopefully he would give me shit back), and buy him a beer , and then hopefully rock out with him.

Do people here really take this shit like I feel like they're taking it? Some thicker skin would be much appreciated.

lighten up, this shit is waaaay beyond silly.

it is funny how flipped out some people on here get.  what are people expecting from music these days?  to transcend you into outer space without the aid of drugs?  to be moved to tears by every song?  for it to be written by the hand of God? seems like no matter what people just don't take music for what it is, expression.   good, bad, whatever, it's all bullshit subjective opinion.  music is art if another person connects to it, period.  whether or not you're that person is irrelevant.  I only half read this thread, but I think I get the jist of it.  low post count dude posts negative review about the album and some fans get defensive, half of whom haven't even heard the fucking thing yet.   you're absolutely right this thread is silly.  

Quote  you're absolutely right this thread is silly.  

Irony. Sweet, sweet irony.

Tracy,

As charming as you are, I cant help getting the feeling that, atleast during this thread,  you took serious offense and now your pulling a 'Just funnin'.  Yes, the OP did ask for comments. But he wasn't making fun of the band.  He was giving opinions on songs.  Let a fellow jacket fan have an opinion without attacking his journalistic integrity.  Yes, you have been here a long while (5 months more than me) , but that doesn't mean you should rip into new people posting their review of the album. He asked for comments not abuse.  If there was sarcasm, you missed the little icon button to hint at it. The dude even said he liked the album! He never tried to sell you on some fact that the new songs are crap.  He just didn't like some of them.  They sound that way to him . I'm sure you'll hear the same songs and be like 'what the hell was that guy talking about?!?!!? OMGWTFLOLZ!!!', and alot of people will do the same.  Then when whats-his-name tried to defend the guy to flipped him alot of crap too.  Was that sarcasm as well?
I guess all I'm trying to say is lighten up a little.  When you kirk out on someone for posting their opinions, yeah, it makes others not want post here.  Maybe thats wierd to you but its true.  Sticks and stones, blah blah blah,  but even if they are just words when you attack people for having a different opinion, thats still pretty crappy.
BTW, I do appriciate the green text to help guide me to your true meanings on your last post. Cheers.

QuoteTracy,
As charming as you are, I cant help getting the feeling that, atleast during this thread,  you took serious offense and now your pulling a 'Just funnin'.  Yes, the OP did ask for comments. But he wasn't making fun of the band.  He was giving opinions on songs.

Serious offense, huh? Over what someone said about music via the internet? Sorry it came across that way. I really don't take any of this seriously and I do think it's sort of fun going back and forth, until someone gets offended, then I always back off. Even when someone PM's me that they will "punch my teeth in" I back off and apologize. However, there are some here who take serious offense to comments.
Sorry if I come across harsh, just having fun.

For God's sakes don't let silly old me piss you off.

And I really do think calling a MMJ song "cheesy Christian rock" is making fun of the band. I could be wrong, but I take it as someone making fun of the band. So, I made fun of them. No big whoop in my book, however, everyone doesn't follow my book.

noted

thanks for your sincerity PapaJoe

Quote

QuoteTracy,
As charming as you are, I cant help getting the feeling that, atleast during this thread,  you took serious offense and now your pulling a 'Just funnin'.  Yes, the OP did ask for comments. But he wasn't making fun of the band.  He was giving opinions on songs.

Serious offense, huh? Over what someone said about music via the internet? Sorry it came across that way. I really don't take any of this seriously and I do think it's sort of fun going back and forth, until someone gets offended, then I always back off. Even when someone PM's me that they will "punch my teeth in" I back off and apologize. However, there are some here who take serious offense to comments.
Sorry if I come across harsh, just having fun.

For God's sakes don't let silly old me piss you off.

And I really do think calling a MMJ song "cheesy Christian rock" is making fun of the band. I could be wrong, but I take it as someone making fun of the band. So, I made fun of them. No big whoop in my book, however, everyone doesn't follow my book.

noted

thanks for your sincerity PapaJoe

tracey you are a cool mother fucker when it comes down to it.  you definitely welcomed me even when we were disagreeing.  just wanted to say that, you def aren't a n00b hater or anything.

First of all, the OP was being very disingenuous. Why would your first post on a FAN forum be a negative review. Why post at all??? It makes absolutely no sense.

My entire point was and will always be that not only is this band different (they operate differently.....they send out a different vibe), but THIS FORUM has always been different. It truly is a community. One that is wrapped around the band. There may have been threads in the past about what songs you didn't particularly like; but no fucking "reviews" with hackneyed, trite bloggerisms and half baked notions (come on: "cheesy Christian rock" and "a song for all the ladies in the house"??????). That no one seems to understand this point about THIS band and THIS forum is depressing.

Second: you're goddamned motherfucking right i'm a "fanboy." And fucking proud of it!!!

Third: maybe i'm just a little upset because after the SNL performance, I had this thought that the band was sort of no longer "my band." That so many more people know of and enjoy them that there was bound to be riff-raff stumbling into our/my community and pissing us/ me off.........

I guess, ultimatley, i am understanding of the fact that I've had two stints on this forum dating back to 2002-- so i'll still be around when the riff-raff go on to something else....


Comments are welcome.....




Also, sarcasm. Sarcasm is welcome.

 I haven't heard the whole album yet, just what's been played at concerts and the few track that the band has released, but what I have heard has been great and very exciting. I understand people have their opinions, and they have every right to voice them. I guess I don't agree with jumping so quickly. With some of these very strong opinions it is hard to believe they have had anough time to let the music soak in. This goes for the good reviews and the bad reviews. So when I read these long reviews about an album that is just a baby, I say LET IT GROW. Give it some time until you feel the urge (evil or not) to cast your vote. As a MMJ fan, I am sure the band would appreciate some time for this to all soak in. I can bet that all of the songs on EU will change as the band learns them. I fell in love with MMJ's music not because of their studio albums, but because their live performances. The first time I heard them play a live concert (although it was OKONOKOS), my heart dropped and it knocked the wind out of my soul.

QuoteFirst of all, the OP was being very disingenuous. Why would your first post on a FAN forum be a negative review. Why post at all??? It makes absolutely no sense.

My entire point was and will always be that not only is this band different (they operate differently.....they send out a different vibe), but THIS FORUM has always been different. It truly is a community. One that is wrapped around the band. There may have been threads in the past about what songs you didn't particularly like; but no fucking "reviews" with hackneyed, trite bloggerisms and half baked notions (come on: "cheesy Christian rock" and "a song for all the ladies in the house"??????). That no one seems to understand this point about THIS band and THIS forum is depressing.

Second: you're goddamned motherfucking right i'm a "fanboy." And fucking proud of it!!!

Third: maybe i'm just a little upset because after the SNL performance, I had this thought that the band was sort of no longer "my band." That so many more people know of and enjoy them that there was bound to be riff-raff stumbling into our/my community and pissing us/ me off.........

I guess, ultimatley, i am understanding of the fact that I've had two stints on this forum dating back to 2002-- so i'll still be around when the riff-raff go on to something else....


Comments are welcome.....




Also, sarcasm. Sarcasm is welcome.

I kind of agree with what you're saying.  I think "fanboy" is a really, pardon by french, gay term.  hyping this band is exactly what we as fans should be doing right now, they're peaking, they've got momentum, we've gotta bring it at the shows and have fun.  it's a collective effort thing.  I wasn't lucky enough to find out about the band until 04 but I'm catching back up thanks to this forum.   this forum needs to open it's arms up to everyone, that's essentially what I thought the purpose of all this was in the first place, bring as many people as possible together and celebrate being alive.  all this message board shit is just time killing between the music.  which is what matters.  I'm just rambling mindlessly.  everyone's right and everyone's wrong.  

QuoteFirst of all, the OP was being very disingenuous. Why would your first post on a FAN forum be a negative review. Why post at all??? It makes absolutely no sense.

My entire point was and will always be that not only is this band different (they operate differently.....they send out a different vibe), but THIS FORUM has always been different. It truly is a community. One that is wrapped around the band. There may have been threads in the past about what songs you didn't particularly like; but no fucking "reviews" with hackneyed, trite bloggerisms and half baked notions (come on: "cheesy Christian rock" and "a song for all the ladies in the house"??????). That no one seems to understand this point about THIS band and THIS forum is depressing.

Second: you're goddamned motherfucking right i'm a "fanboy." And fucking proud of it!!!

Third: maybe i'm just a little upset because after the SNL performance, I had this thought that the band was sort of no longer "my band." That so many more people know of and enjoy them that there was bound to be riff-raff stumbling into our/my community and pissing us/ me off.........

I guess, ultimatley, i am understanding of the fact that I've had two stints on this forum dating back to 2002-- so i'll still be around when the riff-raff go on to something else....


Comments are welcome.....




Also, sarcasm. Sarcasm is welcome.

thanks

Ohhh dude, I am soooo fanboy.

You toucha da jacket, I breaka da face. ;D

The forum is meant for discussion if nothing else right?  It would be kind of boring if someone posted a negative review of everyone's favorite band, and every single reply was, "Thanks for the review! [smiley=thumbup.gif]  

QuoteOhhh dude, I am soooo fanboy.

You toucha da jacket, I breaka da face. ;D

The forum is meant for discussion if nothing else right?  It would be kind of boring if someone posted a negative review of everyone's favorite band, and every single reply was, "Thanks for the review! [smiley=thumbup.gif]  

HA!

Wow.  Coltrane and Tracy, you are being remarkably ridiculous.

Now, I have only been a fan since 2004 (which I'm sure makes me far inferior to you) and only been an official member of the forum for 5 minutes (though I've been reading it for years) but I have to say, you guys are seriously making the rest of the forum look bad.

My Morning Jacket is one of my 4 favorite bands and I have not heard one song from them that I do not like. That said, with every band that you like, if you listen to them for long enough, you will eventually hear something that does not rub you the right way.  

Killerwolf did not say anything bad about the band or the album overall.  He/She simply expressed what they did and did not like about the album.  The fact that this person was able to compare it with their other albums shows that they are a fan.  Killerwolf was not being "disingenuous", they were speaking exactly what their opinion was of the album.  They said both good and bad things about it.

For anyone to say that this message board is "more than a message board" or that it is for "more than just a band" is like someone saying that their religion is the only religion and that "my lord is the only lord, so you are wrong".  Screw you.  Especially you, Coltrane.  

While I too am sad that My Morning Jacket may no longer be my secret band that I love and adore, I think that they, more than any other band deserve some acknowledgment for what they've done.  I hope that in 20 years, people will see them in the regard that people now see Led Zepplin.  Because every song that MMJ has done is a classic, in my opinion.  That does not mean that other people can't speak their opinion about them.  

Have a good one.

Evil TRACY Urges.....

First of all pretension and snobbery are not mutually inclusive.  You say I'm pretentious based on the premise that 'people who say things like 'I used to love REM but now I think they're shit' are the kind of pretentious people who blah blah blah'
That's a huge, silly generalisation.

Everybody is a music snob to varying degrees.  Like sexuality it's a sliding scale.  Some are worse than others.  I had a mate heavily into Happy Hardcore who had complete disdain for guitar based music or anything with instruments basically - the Stones for example.  To him it was passé and he looked down on bands and so on.  Just admit it and get it out there.  That however doesn't imply that I went off REM cos I'm pretentious though does it?  That's entirely your interpretation based on what exactly?  The statement which you quoted in your post.  I went off them cos they became shit.  Pretension had nothing to do with it.  Critical thinking did and their records were lacking in real quality songs and musically they appeared lost - trying out styles and engaging in their whims - Bucks Beach Boys obsession for example but it didn't work.  In the same way I am not snobbish against manufactured pop like a lot of self confessed music snobs would be.  I can dig shit like Britney or Girls Aloud cos some of it is very good indeed (Toxic, Slave 4 U, Biology, Something Kinda Ooh and so on).      

Again my original point had nothing to do with differences in taste it was about the concept of blind faith and I wasn't attacking their opinion merely questioning the reasoning behind the kind of blind faith that means you'll follow a band to the 'ends of the earth' as the poster said.  The gushing fanboy shit that seems to be prevalent around here. Don't change the goalposts or twist the context to suit yourself.  And then you say that gets down to the crux of the matter  

Quote

The same goes for the MMJ song They Ran, a song that does not appeal to me, but out of respect for those who love it, I don't think it's shit or call it shit. I just don't think it's my job to tell you how shitty a song is that you might love (and part of the magic is to see the beauty in your enjoyment of it). Don't you understand that?

So out of respect for complete strangers you don't think its shit?  So because of what other people think that affects what you think about a song?  Eh?   It's not your job but why not just come out and say something is shit?  Why be scared of crapping on a song or a band?  Is it because you don't want to offend the individual or make it personal?  It's not personal though is it?  Its just music.  The individual should be strong enough to take the criticisms and give us good us they get.  That's how most messageboards works you know?  By your logic because millions love My Heart Will Go On then we shouldn't slag it off because heaven forbid we should offend the poor people who like that turd of a song.  The millions will not be affected or bothered by my or your criticism.  We aren't that important.  Celine Dion will, sadly, still go on.

Some people think James Blunt is probably a songwriting genius but that doesn't stop me and it shouldn't stop you from slagging off that nonce out of respect for his fans now should it?  For crying out loud.  Lets not criticise You're Beautiful cos of all those people out there who love it and we wouldn't want to trod on their oh-so-delicate sensibilities now would we?  Look at some of the reaction on this thread cos some newbies first post clumsily criticised Evil Urges.  Who gives a fuck?  We are all big boys and girls and we can defend our corner. At least we should be.  You can tell me how shitty my taste is as much as you want.  Slag off Syd Barrett.  Laugh at The Gnome.  Go on.  You can slag off one of my idols - Laura Nyro - till the cows come home as it will not bother me one iota.  Why would it?  I'd like to hear WHY you don't like her music though - either in a serious academic way or in a amusing kind of obscene rant.  And then I'd reply by telling you why I do.  Go on, slag off that shrieking white witch and I'll respond on why shes one of the key female artists of the past 40 years imo and should be ranked alongside Joni Mitchell.  That's what messageboards are for.  They are not just here for everybody to agree with each other and suck each others cocks in but to actively disagree, argue and debate.  The differences are more interesting than the similarities usually otherwise it ends up like 'isn't X great?  Yes he is.  The end.'  If we were to apply your logic to a larger context then we shouldn't criticise or try and find fault in anything for fear of offending the sensibilities of certain people.  And look where that's led us.  Don't you understand that?  

I'd also like to quote this which is part of a post that your friend Coltrane posted and which you replied 'thanks' because, I'm guessing, you agree with the contents and the sentiment yeah?  Or even if you dont you didnt comment negatively on this fucking bullshit nonsense....

QuoteThird: maybe i'm just a little upset because after the SNL performance, I had this thought that the band was sort of no longer "my band." That so many more people know of and enjoy them that there was bound to be RIFF-RAFF stumbling into our/my community and pissing us/ me off.........

Remember what you said?

QuoteYou rant and rave how you could never be percieved of as pretentious, then the next paragraph you call yourself a music snob. You should perhaps think that through a little more, you unpretentious snob you. Not everyone is a "music snob" to a certain degree, like you say. Get your language straight

Oh dear.  Not we get down to it.  Riff raff?  Doesnt this make him a SNOB Tracy and by association you as well for agreeing with him?  He's pissed off that as the band gets bigger the 'riff raff' will begin to like them and start joining this place then your little world will come crashing down!  Oh no!  You criticise me for being 'pretentious' and a snob then you suck up his ass when he posts shit like that.  This is what is pissing me off.  A newbie gets attacked for daring to offer a negative opinion of the new album whilst senior members of the boards speak fucking guff like the above and people back it up and say nothing.  The nepotism stinks.  And judging by some of the posts on here I'm not the only one who dislikes the gushing fanboy bullshit, MMJ are Ye Gods and anybody who dare criticse will be cursed forever approach that seems to pass for intelligent debate around here.

QuoteFirst of all, the OP was being very disingenuous. Why would your first post on a FAN forum be a negative review. Why post at all??? It makes absolutely no sense.

Because as a FAN he has a right to express his opinion be it positive or negative.  He's bought the records, listened, digested and he's telling us what he thinks.  The fact that it makes 'no sense' to you makes perfect sense to me funnily enough.  Your emphasis on the FAN forum suggests that on a FAN forum only positive viewpoints should be expressed.  Or perhaps only positive viewpoints on your first post?  

QuoteMy entire point was and will always be that not only is this band different (they operate differently.....they send out a different vibe), but THIS FORUM has always been different.

You have no point.  Different how?  You'd think they were the fucking Magic Band or The Residents.  How exaclty do the operate differently from all those other bands out there?  What's the different vibe?  Expand and explain please why this band are different from every other band out there whose ever existed.  Im all ears.  Really.  

This forum has always been different?  Of course it's UNIQUE isn't it?   ::)

QuoteThird: maybe i'm just a little upset because after the SNL performance, I had this thought that the band was sort of no longer "my band." That so many more people know of and enjoy them that there was bound to be riff-raff stumbling into our/my community and pissing us/ me off.........

The crux.  Those pesky riff raff eh coming along and fucking up your mojo by being stupid enough to like a band you like.  Fucking bovine masses eh?  

It's just a rock n roll band folks.  Just a rock n roll band.

Seriously, what the hel? Isn't it a little early for these  epics you call posts?

That said, if someone honestly came on here loving Celine Dion, and seriously digging the Jacket, would we flame them out of town? No. We'd ask why the love her. And the Jacket, and work to put the pieces together.

I didn't do this to set a precendent, but maybe it could be seen as a decent example:

In the other music section, there's a Bon Iver thread. He didn't rub me right when I heard "Skinny Love," but seeing so much love from people who's musical opinions I respect in this community really got me interested. Did I miss something in what I heard? Had I heard the wrong first song? Why do they dig him so much? I posted in there because I didn't care for what I'd heard, but understood also that there must be some redeeming value there, or else we wouldn't have so much love for him. I asked why, got some backstory, and now that I have an idea of how and why his music's affected people on here, I'm interested enough to buy his album and give it another go.

Same thing with Jacket songs like "They Ran." Tracy doesn't dig it. I'm sort of in love with it. Tracy doesn't love it, but he doesn't call it shit because calling it shit starts an argument between us because he's basically tried to invalidate my opinion of the song with his. He'd be more likely to post an "I don't get it--what is it that you love about it?" in response to my love for it, and thus a discusion is generated with good input from both sides.

I'm sorry you thought REM's later output was shit. Some people on here dig it, and you've basically asserted your opinion in a way that attempts to trump theirs, by just flat-out calling it "shit." That's not productive--that generates an argument.

That's why Tracy tore apart this "reveiwer"--the guy comes on here with no basis of his likes, dislikes, or musical tastes, and posits some very strong negatives about the album that a good deal of us have not heard yet. We don't have room to even tell him he's wrong, yet we're subjected to the "Christian rock" and "James Taylor" references. It doesn't matter if any of us here even dig either of these references (I think Taylor's got some great stuff), but this guy has just invalidated our opinions of not only these sources of "influence", but he's also worked to plant negative ideas of these songs in our heads without really digging deeper into them to find a redeeming light.

I'm not going to argue what kidn of a fan I am, but I will buy all their albums and, because Jim's previous output has strongly moved me, I don't think that he would release anything he felt was uninspired, and because of that, I'll look to figure out what it is he felt was important about this work. I don't know if I'll love the whole album yet, but if I approach it with the intent of finding the good, it'll show itself. And I can get something out of it. If I approach it with the attitude of not liking the new direction before I've even heard it, the new album won't stand a chance.

The point of this board is not to argue with eachother, it's to generate discussion. So reviews like that from people who appear to want to "discuss" things (as per Tracy's frequently mentioned "Please comment" at the end of the review) are really hard to figure out. Why come here and post a close-minded, final sounding review of the album? Like it's been suggested--LET IT GROW. This is a forum for a reason--the music is up for discussion. Why make your first post a negative review of an album that you're going to post, and then ask us to argue about your final word? Bring your questions, your comments, your thoughts, your criticisms, and be willing to listen to others' thoughts and discuss them. There's no reason to get rude, but when someone comes on here with the equivalence of journalistic rudeness in regards to something that we are all very passionate about, we're going to respond similarly, thus the harsh criticism from our long-term members.

Goat Boy, you could be welcome to this forum if you were up for listening and discussion, but your posts so far have been nothing but attempting to prove a point. To prove everything Tracy and John Conaway have to say as wrong. Fighting to find inconsistencies in what they've said, misconstruing what they've said, and yourself positing some inconsistencies. I'm not calling you an idiot, nor am I saying you aren't welcome here and trying to shut the door on you, but hear me out when I ask you to discuss and listen.

As for REM, do you think they would've put out something they didn't themselves enjoy? Did Buck's Beach Boy obsession lead him to produce something he himself did not like? I'm sure he dug what he was creating, and I'm sure if you were interested in doing so, you could find some really cool things in that album. Was it old-school REM? Certainly not. Had the band gotten older and found different musical niches to explore and have fun with? Definitely. Did they have enough fun or were pleasantly surprised enough with what they created that they decided to make an album out of it and invite you along to enjoy it with them? Certainly. Is it pretentious of you to write them off because it's different and you don't like it? It depends. If you don't like it, that's alright. But if you don't think anyone else should like it because you don't like it, then yes, that pretentious. If you refuse to let someone else on here argue for liking aspects of it, that's also pretentious. Your opinion is your opinion, and you don't get to force that on someone else. If you'd like to try to understand what it is about those albums that someone else digs, that is honestly one of the coolest things you can do, and it shows a lot of maturity and actually fosters the kind of relationships that have built this board and kept it such a really tight-knight and loving community.

I guess that's an epic, too, but I'm tired of this squibbling. Maybe Tracy's not right through and through. Maybe I'm not either. But I think if you were up for checking out what we have to say and thinking about it and responding thoughtfully rather than trying to dice it to pieces, you might get something out of it. Maybe just as a member of a message board, maybe as something even broader and bigger for your own good. I know I've gained a whole lot from the discussions here. I'd absolutely love to hear at some point that you have, too.

Also, I think you may have figured the attitude of this board wrong. No one's here to offend or defend anyone's musical tastes. We're here to discuss what we dig, check out what other's dig, and see what we have to offer, find where we each resonate, where we don't, and have some good inspired thoughts about it. That's what makes this board different.

I'm glad you dig Syd Barrett so much. The guy was really a tortured genius and really influential with the psychedelia scene. I don't personally enjoy his output more than, say, stuff with a vibe like "Sheep," but that's my musical taste, and I'm not trying to trump yours. I understand you hate Waters. I'm not his biggest fan, but I think the way and he and Gilmour worked together before they grew irreconcilably apart was something really magical, even if it was also terribly dark at the same time. Animals is kind of a special album for me, and I'm still not quite sure why, but I really dig that kind of a dark sprawl more than I do Syd's 60's psychedelia. It wasn't bad music, just not what I prefer to listen to.

Seriously--PEACE.

And just to lighten the mood, after I posted that, I noticed that this thread has been read 1337 times.

Nice.

Good points Tom.
(you were up early this morning)

Maybe this entire issue could have been avoided if killerwolf had used a different title. Instead of making such an absolute negative statement, "What is missing from Evil Urges?" he could have made it more personal like My thoughts on Evil Urges. Just an idea.

I also would like to mention that when a thread like this one produces such argument and discussion it just reinforces the power of MMJ. So let people fight if they have to, let them be passionate, but please remember we are all MMJ fans.

QuoteWow.  Coltrane and Tracy, you are being remarkably ridiculous.

Now, I have only been a fan since 2004 (which I'm sure makes me far inferior to you) and only been an official member of the forum for 5 minutes (though I've been reading it for years) but I have to say, you guys are seriously making the rest of the forum look bad.

My Morning Jacket is one of my 4 favorite bands and I have not heard one song from them that I do not like. That said, with every band that you like, if you listen to them for long enough, you will eventually hear something that does not rub you the right way.  

Killerwolf did not say anything bad about the band or the album overall.  He/She simply expressed what they did and did not like about the album.  The fact that this person was able to compare it with their other albums shows that they are a fan.  Killerwolf was not being "disingenuous", they were speaking exactly what their opinion was of the album.  They said both good and bad things about it.

For anyone to say that this message board is "more than a message board" or that it is for "more than just a band" is like someone saying that their religion is the only religion and that "my lord is the only lord, so you are wrong".  Screw you.  Especially you, Coltrane.  

While I too am sad that My Morning Jacket may no longer be my secret band that I love and adore, I think that they, more than any other band deserve some acknowledgment for what they've done.  I hope that in 20 years, people will see them in the regard that people now see Led Zepplin.  Because every song that MMJ has done is a classic, in my opinion.  That does not mean that other people can't speak their opinion about them.  

Have a good one.

thanks kep, Ill try to be nicer. Hopefully I can still express my feelings here too if I do not agree with what someone posted. It's just words on the internet, but I hear you.

I'm moving on. I appreciate PapaJoe Bear's insight, he enlightened me.

goatboy, you may be about as hard headed as me, so we will have to agree to disagree. I do agree with you on your point That's what messageboards are for.  They are not just here for everybody to agree with each other and suck each others cocks in but to actively disagree, argue and debate.. That's what has been going on, so, all is good.
Have a good one, no hard feelings here.   :)

...What is missing from Evil Urges?  Apparently the ability to have an intelligent conversation-about having a conversation about criticisms and the aforementioned "fanboyism" (certainly the tween-est comment I've read thus far).

Jesus, fucking lighten up.  If we can't talk about talking then obviously the conversation has descended into "Fuck you, fuck me" territory.

So, with all that said...

[size=36]My cat's breath smells like cat food[/size]

Killerwolf, I think you mean well but the way you express yourself is just a little weird. 'Tremendously let down' because it's not sounding haunting enough and it's nothing like the first 3 albums? I don't think the band promised you a haunting album that would sound like their earlier records, did they? Cause only if they did, you would've had reason to be let down. Evil Urges is exactly the album they want to let out into the world, nothing's missing, it's all there. If you don't like it, fine, they sure can't please every single person in the world, but saying you were tremendously let down kinda sucks. They like change, moving forward, exploring. Not everybody is gonna like every change but saying an album is lacking because it's not what YOU want it to sound like makes no sense. Am I making sense?

Welcome to the forum  :)

QuoteKillerwolf, I think you mean well but the way you express yourself is just a little weird. 'Tremendously let down' because it's not sounding haunting enough and it's nothing like the first 3 albums? I don't think the band promised you a haunting album that would sound like their earlier records, did they? Cause only if they did, you would've had reason to be let down. Evil Urges is exactly the album they want to let out into the world, nothing's missing, it's all there. If you don't like it, fine, they sure can't please every single person in the world, but saying you were tremendously let down kinda sucks. They like change, moving forward, exploring. Not everybody is gonna like every change but saying an album is lacking because it's not what YOU want it to sound like makes no sense. Am I making sense?

Welcome to the forum  :)

Nicely said.

I think killerwolf has left the building...he hasn't replied to this thread since the second page. It seems like he just wanted to start a fire and than watch it burn...

Quote

QuoteFirst of all, the OP was being very disingenuous. Why would your first post on a FAN forum be a negative review. Why post at all??? It makes absolutely no sense.

Because as a FAN he has a right to express his opinion be it positive or negative.  He's bought the records, listened, digested and he's telling us what he thinks.  The fact that it makes 'no sense' to you makes perfect sense to me funnily enough.  Your emphasis on the FAN forum suggests that on a FAN forum only positive viewpoints should be expressed.  Or perhaps only positive viewpoints on your first post?  

QuoteMy entire point was and will always be that not only is this band different (they operate differently.....they send out a different vibe), but THIS FORUM has always been different.

You have no point.  Different how?  You'd think they were the fucking Magic Band or The Residents.  How exaclty do the operate differently from all those other bands out there?  What's the different vibe?  Expand and explain please why this band are different from every other band out there whose ever existed.  Im all ears.  Really.  

This forum has always been different?  Of course it's UNIQUE isn't it?   ::)

QuoteThird: maybe i'm just a little upset because after the SNL performance, I had this thought that the band was sort of no longer "my band." That so many more people know of and enjoy them that there was bound to be riff-raff stumbling into our/my community and pissing us/ me off.........

The crux.  Those pesky riff raff eh coming along and fucking up your mojo by being stupid enough to like a band you like.  Fucking bovine masses eh?  

It's just a rock n roll band folks.  Just a rock n roll band.

"just a rock and roll band"???????? man, you really don't understand, do you?

go and search the forum for the post where I explain what Jim and the boys did for my wife and I (after she almost fucking died!) and get back to me.

Quote
    Upstatestruggler posts that she thinks she knows this (type of)guy.  How do you gather that from a review of an album.  If I posted a review of Z it would not be a glowing review of an album that in infallible;  there a songs I like and dont like on it, same as the OP here feels about Evil Urges.  Does that mean I'M that kind of guy? I'm not.  I am the guy that gets there early stays at front up against the state, and rocks the hell out.   If you dont like reviews, dont read them.  That would prevent you from listening to a new album and hearing what a reviewer is talking about.
   

as long as this isn't papa joe simpson, I am happy to respond. the way that dude talks about his daughter's jugs all the time bugs me.

I love to generalize. why the fuck not? I have found that the law of averages proves that some guy with an opinion large enough to poop out a Klee Irwin's daughter's sized turd is usually the kind of guy that will take up space where people should be enjoying music to talk with his friends about his status as a man of wealth and taste. I never said sheeeit about people rocking out in the front row. just talking out. anyway, semantics!

all I was trying to say was this- and I will say it again!- music is subjective. I am personally quite cynical in general, but I don't really bother to comment too heavily on art that I don't like. I just happen to prefer commenting on art that I like. I would feel a little jerky [unless I was trying to be inflammatory, of course-hmm] posting a- no matter which way you slice or spin it- fairly negative review of something that someone created on their own site. I wouldn't go to a painter's site and be like, "although I used to love so-and-so's abstract art,  his new shit is just a little too Thomas Kincaide (sp?)". *

not that the jacket can't handle, hold up to, or appreciate criticism!

p.s. jon t- no shame in the sweet baby james game! you and a lotta people...

*first person to call me out on a post that I have made which pans somebody's art gets a tin of my world famous bourbon balls. just to be fair. I ain't perfect- just damn close!

What is missing from Evil Urges? Nothing. It's the album MMJ wanted it to be- warts and all. I'm sure they hope people enjoy and dig it for what it is. Is it great? I think so. Is it perfect? No. But what really is? Imperfections, oddities, etc. are what makes life (music, art, people, etc.) interesting and unique.

Carry on...

Quote! If you thought that Z was overproduced pop music,

Anyone who thinks that is an idiot.

I think its time for a war cry...

DEATH TO THIS THREAD!!!!

I now pronounce this thread:

(//www.theredskull.com/pics/toast.jpg%3Cbr%20/%3E)

    I am sorry to keep beating this dead horse..this will be my final post on this topic. I am sorry to have caused such a whirlwind.  I am sometimes over opinionated (and a proud music snob)  One thing that many, so many of you missed, is that I first heard most many of  the new songs on the St.Davids recordings.  I was blown away by all of them.  I was only disappointed when I heard the cleaned up, slicked produced versions of those songs.  If I had never heard the acoustic performances (in my opinion, better, more heart felt  versions of those songs) I would have probably not had anything negative to say about most of the new album.   I try to be honest with myself, first as a musician and a music fan, and I will always call it like I see it, especially if something important to me fails to live up to my expectations.
  I listen to Evil Urges at least once a day, and have every day since I got it.  (about 3 weeks now), I forced my little sister to listen to Highly Suspicious in the car yesterday and she made a very uncomfortable face!
   I fell asleep to the Okonokos DVD version of "Dondante" and it blew my subconscious mind last night.   I must confess to having recieved a burned copy of EU  from my cousin, so I didn't technically steal it! I was the kid who snooped through my parents house and found all my presents two weeks before Christmas.  I simply do not have the will power to resist hearing the new material from one of my all time favorite bands.  Like I said before, I have still preordered the real disc, and will continue to buy anything else MMJ puts out as long as it isn't total crap.  
 Tracey, I am sorry about the harsh comments, no hard feelings here.    Goat Boy, I dig your style and Papa Joe seems to be the most rational person on this forum by far.  
 I understand that music is a deeply personal, sometimes religious thing to many people.  I was not trying to force my views on anyone, just wanting to express my own feelings.   I wasn't trying to start any shit with anyone,  I am not the guy who pushes to the front of the line and I speak very quietly and reservedly with people in public.  I don't even drink at shows ever because I don't want to miss the music.
 This band doesn't belong to anyone.  It belongs to everyone that loves and appreciates what they do, for whatever reason that person may have.    SNL is not going ruin MMJ and neither is a message board online.  
 How many posts does one have to make to no longer be a "newbie"?  Actually, that middle school bully bullshit name calling needs to come to an end if anyone is ever supposed to take any of this seriously.
 Thanks!

Hey all,

Just wanted to comment on this topic. I have not heard the album in it's entirety but so far the songs I have heard are awesome. I can explain. Lets not forget in order for a band to be creative they must take different turns and try different things. If you do not you become stagnant and the music, the band and the fans suffer. These guys rock and they rock hard, never a dissappointment to see them LIVE. I am a seasoned Dead Head, my first show being in 1977. I remember when the Dead released Terrapin Station, an album with an orchestra playing. All heads went WTF? it's the end. Then Shakedown Street came out in 1978 and heads were all but puking. Disco Dead, what the hell have they done? Albeit, songs from those two albums turned out to be epic LIVE performances. Fear not, the only thing missing from EU will be the other songs that have not been added, the 30 plus JJ showed up with at the time they recorded is what I speak of. Lets not get crazy over this and enjoy it. MMJ will still rock LIVE.  :)

Quote

I'm sorry you thought REM's later output was shit. Some people on here dig it, and you've basically asserted your opinion in a way that attempts to trump theirs, by just flat-out calling it "shit." That's not productive--that generates an argument.

Well it is shit.  Imo of course.  I'm sure I don't have to add that to everything I say do I?!  Just because I state something to be crap does not imply I am trumping anybody elses opinions.  I am merely stating my opinion is an forceful, blunt way that sometimes gets others with opposing views to chime in.  You say it's not productive but at least this thread has generated something and judging by the number of views and posts on this thread then I could argue it is a productive approach.

QuoteAs for REM, do you think they would've put out something they didn't themselves enjoy? Did Buck's Beach Boy obsession lead him to produce something he himself did not like? I'm sure he dug what he was creating, and I'm sure if you were interested in doing so, you could find some really cool things in that album.

I don't quite see your point here man.  Artists make music for themselves first and foremost and their audience second.  It's irrelevant to me what Buck thought or thinks about Reveal or Around The Sun.  I know he's admitted that these records have faults and he understands the criticisms put it that way which suggests he knew they weren't quite up to scratch when the band were making them or, at the very least, some distance has amended their critical standing with him personally.  

QuoteIs it pretentious of you to write them off because it's different and you don't like it? It depends. If you don't like it, that's alright. But if you don't think anyone else should like it because you don't like it, then yes, that pretentious.

Well I never wrote them off cos it's 'different' and what I 'think' is purely for me to know and cannot be known explicitly based on what I post.  I am Goat Boy on here, somebody else in real life.  That's not to say I pretend to be somebody else but it's a messageboard after all so perhaps I am slightly more brutish and argumentative on here than real life but there's reasons for that.  I merely labeled it shit and gave a couple of reasons which I will now expand.  It is not because it is 'different' and therefore I don't like it.  That makes me sound like some boring music fan who doesn't 'get it' when a band does something a little bit experimental and therefore dismisses it.  I write it off cos it's simply not very good and judging by the reaction of many long time fans - some I know personally and others I know from a messageboard - I am hardly alone in expressing these thoughts am I?  Up, Reveal and Around The Sun were met with a fairly apathetic response in general and each release was in turn worse than the last.  By REM standards they are weak.  All in my opinion of course!  I'd defend Up to a point as there are some good songs on there alongside the guff.  Walk Unafraid and Falls To Climb for example.  At My Most Beautiful is an example of the guff.  A weak Pet Sounds homage that sounds unconvincing and slight.  I likened it to second rate High Llamas.  I stand by that.  Reveal however is a turkey.   This is where they really lost it for me.  First of all the production is overdone and fussily executed.  It's merely a disguise, a ruse, to cover up the fact the songs and melodies just aren't there.  It's a smokescreen.  An illusion basically and judging by the amount of time they spent working on it, it would suggest to me that they were aware of this as well.  Sonically the record is suffocating and doesn't breathe.  It's buried under too much weight, pro-tools and all that shite.  It's an expensive cake with all sorts of fancy bits but ultimately the cake itself doesn't taste that good and the fancy bits are sweet as hell and leave you feeling a bit sick from overdosing on sugar.  

Reveal feels like an album of pastiches.  For example Reno is REM does a Glenn Campbell Wichita Lineman thaang complete with requisite twangy guitar.  Beachball is The Beach Boys and so on.  Imitation Of Life actually feels like a pastiche of an REM tune!  The lyrics, the chords, the melody sounds tired and recycled - devoid of genuine inspiration. By the end they are even parodying themselves man, gnawing at their combined leg and I've heard it all before I'm afraid.  The thrill is gone.  The band were clearly suffering a crises of identity compounded probably by the confused reaction to Up (significantly a better record) and they ended up making an album that was lost in the bands and Bucks especially, interior world.  I have no desire to hear Bucks pale retreads of his personal favourites I'm afraid.  And it's not out of some Luddite tendency or urge to hear 'old-school' REM.  Reveal was merely a failed experiment and the sound of a band clearly lost and struggling to regain their musical identity.  It didn't sound like an REM record.  It was basically REM does '.......' with a skewed emphasis on production that unsurprisingly didn't leave much room for the bands personality to come through and seemed very un-REM.  It bored me to tears frankly.  That's why I dislike Reveal.  

New Adventures was the last REM album that gave me a real kick and that's over ten years ago.  Ten years!  It's sad but there you go.

Peace man, seriously  :) ;)

Quote

Yes just a rock n roll band.  That's all they are.

To be honest I have no idea what your point is.  So the band personally helped you and your wife out during a difficult time and therefore they are no ordinary band?  I dont see the relevance to the music at all which, after all, is how bands are defined.  Not by what deeds they do in their own lives.  And of course I dont understand.  How could I understand or get your very personal reason for thinking they are no 'ordinary band'?  I mean it's great that they did whatever they did but it has no bearing on the quality of the music nor my judgement on that music.  

Quote
Have a good one, no hard feelings here.   :)

Same to you.  It's a messageboard and we (mostly) strangers on the internet so no hard feelings AT ALL.

Peace man,

GB

killerwolf, thanks for the post. My goal here (and some would disagree) is not to run people off, but to share the beauty of the music. My criticism is all game, and in jest, and so over the top that I think it's obvious. It's hard to get all that conveyed to strangers on the internet. Plus, it's not beyond me that I can be a dick.

Someone once said that arguing about music is like dancing about architecture.

~peace~

QuoteMy goal here (and some would disagree) is not to run people off[...]

Let's be clear... if you were some kind of forum assassin that could run particular people out of here, you would be the second most important person in the forum.

I'll always be the first. Or CC. Probably CC, yeah.

Quote

Quote

Yes just a rock n roll band.  That's all they are.

To be honest I have no idea what your point is.  So the band personally helped you and your wife out during a difficult time and therefore they are no ordinary band?  I dont see the relevance to the music at all which, after all, is how bands are defined.  Not by what deeds they do in their own lives.  And of course I dont understand.  How could I understand or get your very personal reason for thinking they are no 'ordinary band'?  I mean it's great that they did whatever they did but it has no bearing on the quality of the music nor my judgement on that music.  

i guess i just don't express myself well enough.

They're not just a band. They a group of great people who produce amazing music which has more than the usual effect.......much, much more.

whatever.

it's clear that we can't get past these language games. so we'll just leave it at that.

welcome.......

QuoteI now pronounce this thread:

(//www.theredskull.com/pics/toast.jpg%3Cbr%20/%3E)

I thought this thread was [size=24]TOAST[/size]

...but it's nice to see everyone getting along...how sweet

Quote   I am sorry to keep beating this dead horse..this will be my final post on this topic. I am sorry to have caused such a whirlwind.  I am sometimes over opinionated (and a proud music snob)  One thing that many, so many of you missed, is that I first heard most many of  the new songs on the St.Davids recordings.  I was blown away by all of them.  I was only disappointed when I heard the cleaned up, slicked produced versions of those songs.  If I had never heard the acoustic performances (in my opinion, better, more heart felt  versions of those songs) I would have probably not had anything negative to say about most of the new album.   I try to be honest with myself, first as a musician and a music fan, and I will always call it like I see it, especially if something important to me fails to live up to my expectations.
  I listen to Evil Urges at least once a day, and have every day since I got it.  (about 3 weeks now), I forced my little sister to listen to Highly Suspicious in the car yesterday and she made a very uncomfortable face!
   I fell asleep to the Okonokos DVD version of "Dondante" and it blew my subconscious mind last night.   I must confess to having recieved a burned copy of EU  from my cousin, so I didn't technically steal it! I was the kid who snooped through my parents house and found all my presents two weeks before Christmas.  I simply do not have the will power to resist hearing the new material from one of my all time favorite bands.  Like I said before, I have still preordered the real disc, and will continue to buy anything else MMJ puts out as long as it isn't total crap.  
 Tracey, I am sorry about the harsh comments, no hard feelings here.    Goat Boy, I dig your style and Papa Joe seems to be the most rational person on this forum by far.  
 I understand that music is a deeply personal, sometimes religious thing to many people.  I was not trying to force my views on anyone, just wanting to express my own feelings.   I wasn't trying to start any shit with anyone,  I am not the guy who pushes to the front of the line and I speak very quietly and reservedly with people in public.  I don't even drink at shows ever because I don't want to miss the music.
 This band doesn't belong to anyone.  It belongs to everyone that loves and appreciates what they do, for whatever reason that person may have.    SNL is not going ruin MMJ and neither is a message board online.  
 How many posts does one have to make to no longer be a "newbie"?  Actually, that middle school bully bullshit name calling needs to come to an end if anyone is ever supposed to take any of this seriously.
 Thanks!

Being a "Newbie" was never a problem around here until about 3 weeks ago.

The Jacket have raised the bar so high that I don't think most people can see it right now.  I will defend At Dawn's reverb and the 5 million layers of Jim's voice in the background till the day I die and after that, but I will also defend that even though the thick vocal reverb and over dubbing are lacking on this album, it is replaced with thick layers of blazing instrumental sounds that make up for it, and come on, Jim's voice is still just as big sounding, he just plays with it a bit more.  The people who are in shock right now will eventually come back to this album and see what is going on, and they will realize that the shock is actually just an awakening.

I guess I could've been more concise in my response to the initial question: What is missing from Evil Urges?
My concise answer is this: Absolutely nothing. In fact, I'm convinced that everything that makes music meaningful, beautiful and important is contained somewhere in this album.

Here is a track by track review from a newbie (to this forum). I've seen these guys around 7 or 8 times including 3 bonnaroo performances: 2004 (the 'return to thunderdome' set), 2005 (the crazy puppet show) & 2006 (epic late night madness).

Evil Urges:
-Track #1 is an incredibly well composed song that seems to combine a whole slew of genres. It's got a futuristic sound (background noises in particular) but still seems like a song whose simplicity is incredibly compelling. I'm not sure there is another song by any artist I've ever heard that is similar to this track. The lyrics are meaningful and touch on a sense of spirituality that resonantes strongly with me. The breakdown in the song is absolutely epic and when they played it live on SNL, James shook the guitar at the end of the solo and it made me think of how tremendous their show is going to be at Bonnaroo this year.

Touch Me I'm Going to Scream:
-Track #2 is addictive. This song makes me think about the girl I love every time I hear it. The bassline is killer. The intensity of the tune and the lyrics are fascinating to me. Many musicians have tried to convey the feeling between two lovers when they are in an intimate setting. This songs conveys that feeling in a way that is original and innovative.

Highly Suspicious:
-Track #3 is ambitious and exciting. I love the risk they took with this and I love the Prince-esque sound. I can't wait to see this live.

I'm Amazed:
-Every line of lyrics in this song is meaningful. This song is incredibly inspiring. It's hard for me to listen to this song and not think about the lack of perspective in the modern world. I think that the following quote will inspire me for my whole life: "I'm amazed at the quiet ocean." I have that feeling every day of my life and I've never heard it phrased as succintly and as precisely as when I heard the first line of this song, the first time I listened to it.

Thank You Too:
-Maybe I'm an emotional dude, but I almost can't listen to this song at work because it makes me well up with tears a bit. I thought Steam Engine was heartbreaking but this one contains such raw and beautiful emotion, and has such an incredibly touching melody (and such a strong breakdown/guitar solo). The strains and shakiness in Jim's voice in this song strike a cord with me. I read the article in Spin about these guys and before I had even read that article I was thinking that this is the song I want to be my first dance with my wife at my wedding. Steam Engine was the song that I had originally lined up for that honor, but this track is what I will be listening to when I dance with my wife for the first time as her husband at our wedding.

Sec Walkin'
-This is going to be an incredible road trip song one day. I can't wait to hear this one on a long stretch of highway (any highway will do, this is not exclusive to bermuda). I know this might not make sense because the song is about walking, but I get the sense that this song is about travelling and the experiences that occur when you are moving thru the world and get that feeling that you are seeing things for the first time, even if the setting is a familiar one.

Two Halves:
-Man I love oldies and this song is probably the best oldies track I've ever heard. It takes all my favorite components of old songs that stand the test of time. From the back up vocals to the tune and the lyrics, this song sounded like a classic the very first time I ever heard it. I've never had a song make that impression on me. Every song on this album has compelling lyrics. This song is the epitome of why this band is great. When I saw MMJ play with the Boston Pops, when the conductor introduced the band he said he chose them because they can't be contained to a single genre. This song is the perfectly example.

Librarian:
-Vivid storytelling is very rare in the new music that I hear. This track paints such a vivid picture; complete with incredible characters, emotions and settings. This might sound strange but when I hear this song I don't just hear the music, I see the whole scene unfolding in my mind. It reminds me a bit of why I love the news on NPR. When you see the news on tv or read it online, it is very passive. You just watch the images and see/hear the words, but when you listen to news stories from NPR on the radio, you paint a picture of the whole scene in your mind, and because you are creating that scene in your mind, and filling in the little details with your own imagination, you feel more connected to the story and the plight of the characters.

Look at You:
-Another heartbreaker. Man, these guys really know how to convey a powerfully sad state of mind in a song. But this isn't just a sad song, it's that typical type of MMJ song that is so incredibly happy that it makes you sad. Or is so incredibly sad that you start to realize the importance of the things that make you happy. I don't mean that this song is typical, I just mean that this band, more than any other I can think of, writes these incredibly sad songs that have a joyfully beautiful context.

Aluminum Park:
-Maybe I'm missing the mark on the message of this song, but the way I hear it, I think it is a commentary on globalization and industrialization. It's a rocking track that comes precisely at the right moment in the album. Just when you're thinking about the sad feeling of happiness from the previous tracks, this one picks you up, makes you straighten your back up and stop feeling sorry for yourself and start to think about how you can get your shit together and do something positive with your life.

Remnants
-Again, maybe I'm transposing my own viewpoints onto this track but it sounds to me like such an amazing commentary on the USA and what is both great and terrible about it. This whole album strikes me as a having a dichotomous theme that runs through it: evil urges that are really natural, normal and healthy; amazing romantic love that is also maddening and excrutiatingly enjoyable; sadness that is really beautiful; a geeky librarian who is incredibly sexy; a walk down the street that echoes the feeling of travelling around the world. I guess what I'm saying is that this song kicks ass and I can't wait to see this live.

Smokin' From Shootin:
-Another track that defies genres and is incredibly philosophical. "What is life and g-d? a perfect vision of the self?" This song, to me, embraces community and I think this will be the theme song to a massive community of my morning jacket fans that will explode in the wake of this album. To me, this track is the tale of an individual searching for a place in the world, almost not realizing that his home is right front of his eyes, wherever he might be. When the electric guitar and the bass drum come pouring down about 4 minutes into the track, the hair on the back of my neck starts to stand up and I start to think that this music speaks to me in a way that no other band has ever done. The transition to the next song is also incredibly crafted.

Touch Me I'm Going To Scream pt II:
-This song is a masterpiece. It typifies why I think this album is my favorite album of all time. It draws you in and takes you. It tells a simple story of a spark between two people that is powerful enough to echo through anyone who has ever been in love with someone or something. Every time I hear this track I picture what this concert at Bonnaroo is going to be like this year.

An official release!  Oh!



I didn't actually read any of the last 5 pages of replies.  Looked like too much reading and I figured it was probably just about the same stuff everyone has been arguing about since the leak.

QuoteI guess I could've been more concise in my response to the initial question: What is missing from Evil Urges?
My concise answer is this: Absolutely nothing. In fact, I'm convinced that everything that makes music meaningful, beautiful and important is contained somewhere in this album.

Here is a track by track review from a newbie (to this forum). I've seen these guys around 7 or 8 times including 3 bonnaroo performances: 2004 (the 'return to thunderdome' set), 2005 (the crazy puppet show) & 2006 (epic late night madness).

Evil Urges:
-Track #1 is an incredibly well composed song that seems to combine a whole slew of genres. It's got a futuristic sound (background noises in particular) but still seems like a song whose simplicity is incredibly compelling. I'm not sure there is another song by any artist I've ever heard that is similar to this track. The lyrics are meaningful and touch on a sense of spirituality that resonantes strongly with me. The breakdown in the song is absolutely epic and when they played it live on SNL, James shook the guitar at the end of the solo and it made me think of how tremendous their show is going to be at Bonnaroo this year.

Touch Me I'm Going to Scream:
-Track #2 is addictive. This song makes me think about the girl I love every time I hear it. The bassline is killer. The intensity of the tune and the lyrics are fascinating to me. Many musicians have tried to convey the feeling between two lovers when they are in an intimate setting. This songs conveys that feeling in a way that is original and innovative.

Highly Suspicious:
-Track #3 is ambitious and exciting. I love the risk they took with this and I love the Prince-esque sound. I can't wait to see this live.

I'm Amazed:
-Every line of lyrics in this song is meaningful. This song is incredibly inspiring. It's hard for me to listen to this song and not think about the lack of perspective in the modern world. I think that the following quote will inspire me for my whole life: "I'm amazed at the quiet ocean." I have that feeling every day of my life and I've never heard it phrased as succintly and as precisely as when I heard the first line of this song, the first time I listened to it.

Thank You Too:
-Maybe I'm an emotional dude, but I almost can't listen to this song at work because it makes me well up with tears a bit. I thought Steam Engine was heartbreaking but this one contains such raw and beautiful emotion, and has such an incredibly touching melody (and such a strong breakdown/guitar solo). The strains and shakiness in Jim's voice in this song strike a cord with me. I read the article in Spin about these guys and before I had even read that article I was thinking that this is the song I want to be my first dance with my wife at my wedding. Steam Engine was the song that I had originally lined up for that honor, but this track is what I will be listening to when I dance with my wife for the first time as her husband at our wedding.

Sec Walkin'
-This is going to be an incredible road trip song one day. I can't wait to hear this one on a long stretch of highway (any highway will do, this is not exclusive to bermuda). I know this might not make sense because the song is about walking, but I get the sense that this song is about travelling and the experiences that occur when you are moving thru the world and get that feeling that you are seeing things for the first time, even if the setting is a familiar one.

Two Halves:
-Man I love oldies and this song is probably the best oldies track I've ever heard. It takes all my favorite components of old songs that stand the test of time. From the back up vocals to the tune and the lyrics, this song sounded like a classic the very first time I ever heard it. I've never had a song make that impression on me. Every song on this album has compelling lyrics. This song is the epitome of why this band is great. When I saw MMJ play with the Boston Pops, when the conductor introduced the band he said he chose them because they can't be contained to a single genre. This song is the perfectly example.

Librarian:
-Vivid storytelling is very rare in the new music that I hear. This track paints such a vivid picture; complete with incredible characters, emotions and settings. This might sound strange but when I hear this song I don't just hear the music, I see the whole scene unfolding in my mind. It reminds me a bit of why I love the news on NPR. When you see the news on tv or read it online, it is very passive. You just watch the images and see/hear the words, but when you listen to news stories from NPR on the radio, you paint a picture of the whole scene in your mind, and because you are creating that scene in your mind, and filling in the little details with your own imagination, you feel more connected to the story and the plight of the characters.

Look at You:
-Another heartbreaker. Man, these guys really know how to convey a powerfully sad state of mind in a song. But this isn't just a sad song, it's that typical type of MMJ song that is so incredibly happy that it makes you sad. Or is so incredibly sad that you start to realize the importance of the things that make you happy. I don't mean that this song is typical, I just mean that this band, more than any other I can think of, writes these incredibly sad songs that have a joyfully beautiful context.

Aluminum Park:
-Maybe I'm missing the mark on the message of this song, but the way I hear it, I think it is a commentary on globalization and industrialization. It's a rocking track that comes precisely at the right moment in the album. Just when you're thinking about the sad feeling of happiness from the previous tracks, this one picks you up, makes you straighten your back up and stop feeling sorry for yourself and start to think about how you can get your shit together and do something positive with your life.

Remnants
-Again, maybe I'm transposing my own viewpoints onto this track but it sounds to me like such an amazing commentary on the USA and what is both great and terrible about it. This whole album strikes me as a having a dichotomous theme that runs through it: evil urges that are really natural, normal and healthy; amazing romantic love that is also maddening and excrutiatingly enjoyable; sadness that is really beautiful; a geeky librarian who is incredibly sexy; a walk down the street that echoes the feeling of travelling around the world. I guess what I'm saying is that this song kicks ass and I can't wait to see this live.

Smokin' From Shootin:
-Another track that defies genres and is incredibly philosophical. "What is life and g-d? a perfect vision of the self?" This song, to me, embraces community and I think this will be the theme song to a massive community of my morning jacket fans that will explode in the wake of this album. To me, this track is the tale of an individual searching for a place in the world, almost not realizing that his home is right front of his eyes, wherever he might be. When the electric guitar and the bass drum come pouring down about 4 minutes into the track, the hair on the back of my neck starts to stand up and I start to think that this music speaks to me in a way that no other band has ever done. The transition to the next song is also incredibly crafted.

Touch Me I'm Going To Scream pt II:
-This song is a masterpiece. It typifies why I think this album is my favorite album of all time. It draws you in and takes you. It tells a simple story of a spark between two people that is powerful enough to echo through anyone who has ever been in love with someone or something. Every time I hear this track I picture what this concert at Bonnaroo is going to be like this year.

Hey Jim, how's it going?   ;D

Nice review.  I do think this is their strongest album from start to finish.

my greedy ass still wants to hear the 7 that didn't fit.