As a huge fan of My Morning Jacket, I was eagerly anticipating Evil Urges, having listened relentlessly to It Still Moves and Z and purchased all the earlier albums too. The reverb drenched vocals, existential lyrics, beautiful melodies balanced superbly with some heavy guitar work, have drawn comparisons with Neil Young, but despite the grand nature of their sound, a playful exuberance is never too far around the corner and its that ability not to take themselves too seriously, which has made them so listenable. I can pretty much put them on at any time of day in any mood and their music fits. That fine balance of intensity and playfulness has been tipped very firmly in the playfulness direction and that harmony they've achieved in the past, is not to be found in this latest effort from them, Evil Urges. I get the feeling that with success and perhaps a lot of sex, Jim James has decided to just have some light hearted fun, making an album that could even be a homage to Prince in its attempt at sexiness. It sounds like it was made in the space of an evening (a friday night on the piss most probably), rather than the manifestation of years of profound introspective thought. The track Highly Suspicious made me want to adopt the brace position. I hope, like the morning after a night out, they will wake up smiling, but suitably ashamed and ready to start being serious again. I hope it sells though and wish them nothing but the best. I'm seeing them live next week and I just pray they play some of the old stuff!
