6 My Morning Jacket - Circuital

My Morning Jacket rights the ship with Circuital. 2008's Evil Urges was schizophrenic, unfocused, and frankly, not that great. We were spoiled by Z and expected more. With this record, they deliver. It's still My Morning Jacket, full of reverb, big guitars, and Jim James' top register range. But, Circuital is all business.

It starts with declaration following question. 'Should I believe in my good work?' "Victory Dance" is such a dark and brooding way to start an album, it gives you goosebumps as the big green eye stares back at you. Keyboardist Bo Koster really shines, especially on songs like "The Day Is Coming" which even more momentous than the first two tunes. It really feels like My Morning Jacket 2.0. They took the skill of Z and the experimental side of Evil Urges and rolled it all into a big 'ol rock record.

My Morning Jacket is a fantastic live band. If you haven't seen them, you must. That energy is really captured here, as they always manage to do. A chorus of backing singers and horns on "Holdin' On To Black Metal" help Jim James push it
over the edge, and a lap steel swells to meet him in the chorus of "You Wanna Freak Out" before a breakdown of in-your-face fuzz.

MMJ are veterans at this point. With Circuital, they return to the good graces of that small circle of bands we consider our generation's best.

Download: "Holdin' On To Black Metal" - "The Day Is Coming" - "First Light"