2008 Woodie Awards
Album Reviews
Issue date: 6/10/08 Section: Arts/mp3s
My Morning Jacket - Evil Urges
*** 1/2 out of *****
Here it is, Jim James and his boys back again for My Morning Jacket's fifth album release, Evil Urges. Written in Colorado and recorded in Manhattan, this is the group's first studio release in nearly three years, and the band proves once again to be a master at bridging the hipster-hippie gap with psychedelic chords and hard-moving lyrics on the 14 songs released by ATO (According To Our) Records. Many of the songs were previewed by the band at this year's South by Southwest music festival, and the group also previewed two during the airing of a May "Saturday Night Live" episode.
Its definitive and unique sound is there, but perhaps the moody and wistful mentality of the lyrics has been lost. Many of the songs are reminiscent of the dreamy vocals off of Jacket's previous albums, such as Z, but simple and obvious lyrics are distracting, such as "Home alone dotting your i's/Peanut-butter-pudding surprise" in "Highly Suspicious." "Aluminum Park" has a strong and heavy bass line with a "fist-in-the-air" anthemic vibe, while "Two Halves" reminds me of a '50s Buddy Holly song crooning to a girl on the brink of sexual deviancy.
On the title track, James' high-pitched voice grooves to a rock-funk tune that brings Prince (and his sensuality) to mind. "Librarian" is a more traditional Jacket song, with melancholy lyrics and ethereal guitar. As James told RollingStone.com in a recent interview, "A lot of my writing and life is rooted in fantasy and more fantasy world."
The fantastical and epic riffs that have defined Jacket are present in Evil Urges, but its magical lyrics are not and ultimately prevent the album from achieving greatness.
Alexis' Picks: "Touch Me I'm Going to Scream, Pt. 2," "Thank You Too."
- by Alexis Baker
The Watson Twins - Fire Songs
*** 1/2 out of *****
Perhaps best known as Jenny Lewis's backup on her lovely 2006 solo début, Rabbit Fur Coat, the Watson Twins delivers its first full-length record of songs that sound just like what you might expect. Fire Songs is an album of breezy, relaxed tunes straight out of a sunny So-Cal summer afternoon. Blending their voices into pretty melodies, the twins - Chandra and Leigh - are backed by guitar and drums, with occasional string arrangements, harmonicas, or horns adding some flair.
*** 1/2 out of *****
Here it is, Jim James and his boys back again for My Morning Jacket's fifth album release, Evil Urges. Written in Colorado and recorded in Manhattan, this is the group's first studio release in nearly three years, and the band proves once again to be a master at bridging the hipster-hippie gap with psychedelic chords and hard-moving lyrics on the 14 songs released by ATO (According To Our) Records. Many of the songs were previewed by the band at this year's South by Southwest music festival, and the group also previewed two during the airing of a May "Saturday Night Live" episode.
Its definitive and unique sound is there, but perhaps the moody and wistful mentality of the lyrics has been lost. Many of the songs are reminiscent of the dreamy vocals off of Jacket's previous albums, such as Z, but simple and obvious lyrics are distracting, such as "Home alone dotting your i's/Peanut-butter-pudding surprise" in "Highly Suspicious." "Aluminum Park" has a strong and heavy bass line with a "fist-in-the-air" anthemic vibe, while "Two Halves" reminds me of a '50s Buddy Holly song crooning to a girl on the brink of sexual deviancy.
On the title track, James' high-pitched voice grooves to a rock-funk tune that brings Prince (and his sensuality) to mind. "Librarian" is a more traditional Jacket song, with melancholy lyrics and ethereal guitar. As James told RollingStone.com in a recent interview, "A lot of my writing and life is rooted in fantasy and more fantasy world."
The fantastical and epic riffs that have defined Jacket are present in Evil Urges, but its magical lyrics are not and ultimately prevent the album from achieving greatness.
Alexis' Picks: "Touch Me I'm Going to Scream, Pt. 2," "Thank You Too."
- by Alexis Baker
The Watson Twins - Fire Songs
*** 1/2 out of *****
Perhaps best known as Jenny Lewis's backup on her lovely 2006 solo début, Rabbit Fur Coat, the Watson Twins delivers its first full-length record of songs that sound just like what you might expect. Fire Songs is an album of breezy, relaxed tunes straight out of a sunny So-Cal summer afternoon. Blending their voices into pretty melodies, the twins - Chandra and Leigh - are backed by guitar and drums, with occasional string arrangements, harmonicas, or horns adding some flair.
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