Evil Urges (CD - 2008)

Photographer: Autumn DeWilde.

While My Morning Jacket began experimenting outside of its signature alt-country/classic-rock sound on 2005's Z, little could have prepared fans for the stylistic shifts apparent on EVIL URGES. Frontman Jim James channels Prince on the slinky opening title track, and the album branches out in a number of directions from there, with prog-rock angularity ("Touch Me I'm Going to Scream Part 1") and breezy `70s pop ("Sec Walkin'") all added to the mix. On EVIL's biggest curveball, the unabashedly silly "Highly Suspicious," the Kentucky-based group seems to have wandered in Ween territory (not a huge stretch since both acts are neo-jam bands), with James squealing about a "peanut-butter pudding surprise" before a comically terse chorus.

Although the blatant absurdity and over-the-top musical detours may dishearten some MMJ diehards, URGES still features moments that evoke the ensemble of old--"I'm Amazed" is a bright Southern-tinged anthem, and "Librarian" is a gentle acoustic ode to the bookish profession. Listeners will undoubtedly debate whether My Morning Jacket's newfound eccentric and eclectic aesthetic is a virtue or a liability, but, regardless, this approach makes for an inarguably bold and adventurous outing. minimize