ZMy Morning Jacketout nowDespite universal critical acclaim and supporting slots for the likes of Idlewild and the Foo Fighters, My Morning Jacket are a band who have somehow remained firmly off the radar. Z, their fourth album, seems like a concerted effort to change that.Renowned for their distinctive brand of lush country-folk, My Morning Jacket are a 21st century update on artists such as Neil Young and Bob Dylan. Their breakthrough album, 2001’s At Dawn, was an understated masterpiece, seamlessly combining delicate acoustic guitars with subtle touches of electronica. For a band associated with dreamy, atmospheric music, the most striking feature of Z is its focus and clarity. By no means has their sound evolved beyond all recognition: Jim James’ rich, reverb-drenched vocals remain and the gentle acoustics of Knot Comes Loose and expansive psychedelia of Dondante recall the band’s earlier work. However, there has been a definite change in style in comparison to their previous albums, presumably due to a series of line-up changes during the past year. This is also the first album recorded outside of the band’s native Kentucky, and sees the band truly spreading their wings.Most noticeable is the shift towards electronica, which sees the band entering territory more normally associated with bands such as the Flaming Lips or Grandaddy. Under the influence of newly hired keyboardist Bo Koster, organs and synths dominate the album, in particular the jittery opening track Wordless Chorus, with its throbbing bass and rhythmic organ patterns.Also to the fore are the band’s pop sensibilities. Although they have always been melodic, the subtlety of My Morning Jacket’s work has meant that it has not always been accessible. On Z, tracks such as current single Off The Record and the gleeful What A Wonderful Man are the most immediate they have recorded, and will hopefully draw a wider audience into their quirkily enchanting world.Confident and progressive, Z is an impressive work for a band that are clearly still in a state of flux. A surprisingly effective change of direction for My Morning Jacket.ARCHIVE:2nd week MT 2005
