Customer Reviews:
Showing reviews 1-5 of 11
 BOLD, BAFFLING, and BRILLIANT. June 20, 2008
Paul McColm. (Reading ,England)
11 out of 13 found this review helpful
Other My Morning Jacket albums have hinted at the bands eclectic approach to their music and influences, but none of their studio albums have ventured this far into new territory.Evil Urges is the sound of a band at its most playfully creative, and the results are a joyous mix of the expected and the slightly surreal.Like the Flaming Lips before them My Morning Jacket are not afraid to take chances and hope their audience keeps up.
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br /Perhaps the most controversial track is "Highly Suspicious" which steals from Prince, with added oddness in its chorus.However this is just one surprise as Evil Urges builds to the climatic modern space rock epic "Good Intentions" that closes this uplifting, but mind boggling set of songs.It takes guts to break so completely from accepted norms, and the joy of Evil Urges is in its willingness to do just that.The main comparison i can think of is to imagine Neil Young emerging as a young talent today with 50 years of rock history to work with,i reckon he would be producing music not dissimilar to this, which is the highest praise i can give.
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br /With the success of bands like My Morning Jacket, Death Cab For Cutie, and Modest Mouse, American left field pop has not looked this healthy since the early Nineties, and is really showing the way for creative music in this new century.
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Evil Star Ratings October 15, 2008
A. Hughes (MK, UK)
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
This star rating thing is funny old business, as I write Evil Urges has an overall rating of 3.5 stars, on the strength of some very negative reviews from MMJ fans comparing Evil Urges unfavorably with their previous output. I agree the album isn't as good as either Z or It Still Moves but in the grand scheme of things it ain't no two star album, nor is it naive or unintelligent. The title track, think Curtis Mayfield via Lambchop with a bit of Prog-Rock thrown-in for good measure, is worth the price of the admission alone.
If You Don't Love It I'd Be Highly Suspicious July 15, 2009
Benjamin Tansey
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
Just so you know, My Morning Jacket's fifth studio album "Evil Urges" is perhaps one of my favourite records of all time. Well, definitely top 20, possibly even top 10. And I made this decision without ever having heard another one of their albums. Until now. I mean right now; as I type this I am listening to second album "At Dawn" for the first time.
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br /What immediately strikes me is how similar all the songs are to each other. Not in a bad way, in that way that makes for a very cohesive and balanced album, but still that's very unlike "Evil Urges". One of the many things I love about that record is how eclectic it is; the sexy funk rock of 'Highly Suspicious', the joyous 'Thank You Too!', 'Aluminum Park's balls-out rock and 'Smokin From Shootin's sweet tenderness. To some people, I concede, this could make for an erratic and unfocused listen. Personally I loved the variety in both style and emotion this gives the album. To ears that didn't know any better, it sounded like a band who are comfortable with incorporating diverse influences into an otherwise fairly narrow framework. Listening to "At Dawn" now, it seems like "Evil Urges" is actually an anomaly in the MMJ catalogue; a band moving forward and trying new things.
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br /This is a stunning piece of work and I can't understand how it was as overlooked as it was by the music press. It's a pretty unclassifiable record and maybe that's the problem, rock critics just didn't know what it was. Well I'll tell you what it is, it's frickin' ace! As a band, I can't really comment on MMJ an awful lot, but as an album, I really can't recommend "Evil Urges" enough.
Weevil Urges May 8, 2008
Mr. Rj Mccann
4 out of 10 found this review helpful
This album weaves like a Weevil, it's the Wevie Stonder of weaving, weaving it's way through soul, rb, gargled electronics, pysche rock, folk, country and some heavier stuff too... obviously they're very accomplished musicians. I hadn't heard of these guys til the other day though, when I was in my local record shop where they were playing a promo copy.. annoyingly I had to buy an import on Amazon as its not out yet. But it was well worth it. I've been getting bored with most new music lately as i've found that it doesnt have much substance and as a result doesn't reward repeat listenings. This however has a massive life span. It's a pretty long album track wise, but because all the songs are so different I keep going back to it, as the songs that were initially my faves (Evil Urges Touch Me.. Pt 2) have been replaced by others (Librarian Highly Suspicious) which are now being replaced by others... tis the gift that keeps on giving.
I keep going back again and again August 1, 2008
K. Wright (Southport, England)
1 out of 2 found this review helpful
I don't understand the number of critical reviews of this album. I think there are some truly wonderful songs on here, and for me, it's the one album I've returned to again and again over the last few weeks. Tracks like I'm Amazed, Aluminum Park, Thank You Too, Remnants, Smokin' From Shootin. I could go on and on. There are only really two or three tracks on here that I would have jettisoned, and they aren't really bad, just not very memorable. I even enjoy Highly Suspicious!
br /I agree with another reviewer that the spontaneous shouts and yelps that suggest this was a 'live in the studio' recording sound slightly contrived. But that's a minor complaint.
br /Overall, I love the variety of styles, the songwriting, the fabulous musicianship... I have trouble picking out some of the lyrics but I'll get them eventually.
br /I have never been disappointed by an MMJ album, and I'm not disappointed by this one either. Highly recommended.
Showing reviews 1-5 of 11
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