My Morning Jacket Z

Pure and simple, this album is perfect

On the heels of It Still Moves, one of the best albums to come out in 2003, My Morning Jacket has released Z, a culmination of every nuance of creative genius they've shown in their short but prosporous career. From the beginning with the super "Wordless Chorus," you immediately recognize that the band can no longer be characterized as your typical jam-band country rock band, as they have now infused reggae, new wave, and even some electronica into their sound. Incredibly dynamic, My Morning Jacket goes all over the place without alienating, but instead gets us to enjoy the ride, and more importantly, always want more. A perfect example is the wonderful "Off the Record," which despite its seemingly ripped surfer rock intro actually turns out to be quite the treat, particularly when it turns into a chillout jam in the final minutes. Another major difference between this album and all of their previous is that for once you feel the band's presence. No longer do they feel distant or subdued, but instead engaged, having fun, and completely energized. This is by far the most focused album they've ever released, and consequently, among the top as far as album of the year is concerned. Another superb song is the track "Lay Low," which is the most country-oriented of all of their other tracks, but is still a completely different approach from what they typically take. Instead of emphasis on guitars, the piano serves as a more prominent instrument, while Jim James' vocals soars above the wonderful arrangement. Also worth praise is the lovely "Knot Comes Lose" which is also similar to their previous sound, except it sounds so incredibly mature and confident, that their overall sound is much more elevated than anything they'd done previously. If there is a bad thing to be said about this album, it would have to be that eventually it has to end. This is one of those few albums that lives up to its critical acclaim and praise, and is a definitive best buy for truly just about anyone. So really, what are you waiting for?

★★★★★