My Morning Jacket is the band that indie rock fans have been waiting for
years to hear. Combining Wilco-like qualities and Uncle Tupelo alt-country sounds, along with lead singer Jim James dead-on in-key vocals, this is one of the best LPs of the year.
The third LP from this Kentucky-based quintet hits all the right notes on 12 songs that range from heartbreak to optimism about life. One of the best qualities about the band is that their distinctive sound never feels forced, as the band incorporates the necessary instruments at the necessary times, without ever overdoing it. For example, "Dancefloors" uses trumpets in a punctuated fashion, while a lap steel guitar adds atmosphere to "Golden."
"Rollin' back" is a ballad that allows James to open up his vocal box and extend each syllable of the lyrics, slowly singing lines "When I think about the story/One thing seems pretty clear/The warm things you left behind they still want you here." The band takes its time to unravel this song that it's hard not to get swept up in its beauty.
"Just One Thing" is the shortest song on the album, clocking in at three minutes and 13 seconds, which is
the only downfall for My Morning Jacket; the band takes its time, and short pop songs with instant gratification are not the band's forte.
However, this is no excuse to not allow oneself to get swept away. This is the soundtrack of the fall, as the days get shorter and the cool nights get longer.
Reach the reporter at steven.ganczaruk@asu.edu.
