My Morning Jacket likes to hide some of its best music behind unassuming titles.
Twenty years ago, the Louisville-based jam-infused rock band led by Jim James released 鈥淶,鈥� one of its most heralded records. And now comes 鈥渋s," their 10th full-length record.
So, is 鈥渋s鈥� any good?
Yes, 鈥渋s鈥� is.
Nearing their third decade as a band, My Morning Jacket's veterancy shines on 鈥渋s." They continue to improve on their ability to write melodic and focused psychedelic rock songs.
And for that reason, seemingly every track on 鈥渋s鈥� could be a single for the band, a highlight of their live set or a launching pad for improvisation on stage.
For 鈥渋s,鈥� My Morning Jacket handed the producer duties over to Brendan O鈥橞rien, who has worked with Phish, Bruce Springsteen and Pearl Jam 鈥� a rarity for a band that prefers to self-produce and has for nearly a decade.
It's paid off. O鈥橞rien doesn鈥檛 mess with the sound that My Morning Jacket fans love and expect. Instead, he seems to have focused the band in a way that allows them to deliver a unified, 10-song collection. The songs are meant to communicate 鈥渁 sense of presence in the now,鈥� as James described the album titled in a press release.
鈥淗opefully those songs will be helpful to people and give them some kind of peace as they try to deal with the insanity of the world," James said. 鈥淏ecause that鈥檚 what music does for me.鈥�
That happens at the jump. Opener 鈥淥ut in the Open鈥� leads with a catchy guitar riff.
鈥淚'm realizing what's at stake now," James sings. 鈥淚 can't pretend that I'm not scared / But I'll live while I'm still free.鈥�
On the love song 鈥淓veryday Magic,鈥� James finds transcendence in the mundane. 鈥淓veryday magic / A ripple in the fabric," he sings. "Of all space time / Oh you have it / In your heart.鈥�
鈥淭ime Waited,鈥� another love song, seems destined to become a standard for the band, with its easy-going melody and inventive sample of pedal steel giant Buddy Emmons鈥� 鈥淏lue Jade."
That song may find a place on the playlists at weddings of neohippies, especially those who connect a little later in life. The evidence is in its lyrics: 鈥淲e know real love takes forever / And the clock ticks faster every year / But time waited / For you and me,鈥� James sings.
My Morning Jacket shifts the weirdness to a higher gear with 鈥淪quid Ink,鈥� a blues-y rocker with a propulsive beat. It is certain to come alive in front of audiences.
From the longtime fan to the newbie, 鈥渋s鈥� delivers with familiar, elevated songs.
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Scott Bauer, The Associated Press
