My Morning Jacket’s tenth studio album is lays the groundwork for musical revelations and continues to surpass the limits of their usual sound.
My Morning Jacket, made up of vocalist/guitarist Jim James, bassist Tom Blankenship, guitarist Carl Broemel, drummer Patrick Hallahan, and keyboardist Bo Koster, stepped foot into the rock and roll scene more than 25 years ago. Over the years, they have kept the creative drive and inquisitive nature they have innately possessed since the beginning of their career.
My Morning Jacket decided to tackle their tenth studio album is differently than previous works. Instead of self-producing this album like they usually would, they collaborated with producer and multi-GRAMMY Award-winner Brendan O’Brien. Before Brendan O’Brien joined My Morning Jacket in the studio, is started from a collection of over a hundred demos. Vocalist/guitarist Jim James felt so inspired after O’Brien came onto the project that he wrote many more songs for the album, which made up about half of the finished project.
The first track, “Out In The Open,” starts with a joyful-sounding instrumental that continues throughout the song. This track is about living life to the fullest and not hiding one’s truth. When someone is open and honest, there could be a wave of relief washing over them but it can simultaneously be scary to bare your soul and emotions to another person or the world.
Track six is called “Beginning From The Ending.” This track explores the idea of what it means to start anew; when one thing in life ends, another journey begins. “But love still lives on in our hearts and the earth and the sun,” sings Jim James. This lyric cements the message that love is the only thing that will last through all the endings in life. The end of the track fades into the distance while repeating the lyric “beginning from the ending.”
Track nine, “Die For It,” starts with an almost calming instrumental that transforms into a funky beat. About halfway through the track, the lyrics end, and the listener is left with a beautiful instrumental. The song slowly fades as soft vocals ring through the air.
The last track on this album is “River Road.” The track begins with a slow percussive beat paired with light guitar strumming. The lyrics are quite leisurely and smooth sounding. The last portion of the track has no lyrics and an electric guitar reminiscent of the sound of guitars in 1970s rock music. This electric guitar dies away as the track ends.
As an album, is reflects the growth of a band over the course of more than two and a half decades, showcasing their musical abilities and the advancement of their artistry. My Morning Jacket’s new album is releases on March 21. My Morning Jacket Is On Tour starts April 1.
