s="h3color tiny">This review is from: Circuital (MP3 Music)

   On 2005's "Z", Jim James declared, "We are the innovators, they are the immitators" and while he was not necessarily referring to his band or that masterful album, it was a fitting statement from a group that had reinvented themselves and left most other rock acts in their wake. Six years and two albums later, My Morning Jacket may not be quite as innovative as they were when Z redefined them, but on Circuital they are still blazing their own trail and keeping their music sounding both fresh and familiar at the same time.Circuital finds the group trying out different sounds and styles from the largely acoustic ballad "Wonderful (The Way I Feel)" which is a nod to fellow bearded indie rockers Fleet Foxes and Band of Horses, to the gentle piano ballad, "Movin' Away" which closes the album on a quiet note. Elsewhere, MMJ deliver an infectious slice of pop metal with "Holding on to Black Metal" which features a ridiculously catchy riff, horns and an anthematic chorus that...Read more

       When we last heard from My Morning Jacket, with 2008's "Evil Urges", the band was exploring new directions, including some funk-related undertones (such as "Highly Suspicious"), of all. Yet somehow it worked. After extensive touring in support of "Evil Urges" (these guys are truly road warriors) and some time away, now comes the highly anticipated new album. And guess what, yet new surprises!"Circuital" (10 tracks; 45 min.) starts off with the brooding 6 min. "Victory Dance" which towards the end culminates with a no-holds-barred musical crash, just beautiful. It is followed by the epic 7 min. title track, which builds and builds. Those 2 tracks alone eat up 1/4 of the album's running time. "The Day Is Coming" finds some lighter tones. Jim James' falsetto voice, so prevalent in earlier albums, is kept in check for most of the album. (Interestingly, he is on this album again credited as Yim Yames, the moniker he used for his George Harrison tribute EP released a few years...Read more