Up until it's official release next Tuesday May 31st, you can hear "Circuital" in it's entirety via NPR's Exclusive First Listen. To me it feels like My Morning Jacket have found a comfortable balance between what they created in 2005's "Z" and what they were striving for in 2008's "Evil Urges". It's certainly going to require repeated listens to absorb but my first impression is that it's a solid and consistent album re-establishing MMJ as a musical force to be reckoned with. Here are my thoughts on some of the individual tracks.
Victory Dance - Another great slow building song by a band that's got a knack for writing them. It's perfect for starting off an album or a show. In fact they opened their show at The Hangout Festival last week with it.
Wonderful (The Way I Feel) - One of the most beautiful songs Jim has written. It's been played live for a number of years and cherished by those who have heard it. Now we finally get a studio version. Thank you, thank you, thank you!
Outta My System - A glance into the mind of Jim James as he reflects on his past. Simple yet introspective lyrics.
Holdin' On To Black Metal - It's this album's 'Highly Suspicious'. Some people will love it, some will hate it. If 'Highly Suspicious' felt like Jim's homage to Prince, then this one goes out to all his funk/soul influences. Trepidation gave way to full embrace from me after hearing a live recording of it from The Hangout Fest courtesy of The Steam Engine.
You Wanna Freak Out - This song was the biggest surprise of the album for me. The phrasing reminds me a lot of another MMJ song (Sec Walkin'), which was a weak point on Evil Urges in my opinion. What 'Sec Walkin' could have been is realized on this wonderful tune.
Movin Away - A review on NPR said you could hear the influence of George Harrison on this song (Jim James previously released an EP of Harrison's songs). I totally agree. It's also an interesting choice to close out the album. The songs ending their two previous albums (Evil Urges & Z) have had an epic and explosive feel. 'Movin Away' fits in well in this case however as it following another slow 50's-esk ballad appropriately titled 'Slow Slow Tune'.
