Years ago, I used to doubt that making a great album was enough to be discovered and appreciated by music fans. You needed a gimmick to stand out from the multitude of music acts that keep coming out. Then I picked up At Dawn, My Morning Jacket's sprawling sophomore release on tiny Darla Records. It took the rest of world two years to catch up, but hard work (and the most kick-ass live show) have won the band a host of fans and has led up to It Still Moves, My Morning Jacket's major label debut.
Someone who has followed the band over the past couple of years would find few surprises in It Still Moves. The band is no longer backing lead singer and songwriter Jim James but plays a much larger role than in the past. Piano keys are played hard on "Dancefloors" courtesy of Danny Cash just before a small arsenal of Stax-esque horns fill out one of the tightest rhythm sections in rock and roll today.
Live show rockers such as "Mahgeetah" and the monstrous "One Big Holiday" complement a host of slower, drawn-out tunes such as "I Will Sing You Songs," "Rollin Back," and "Steam Engine" that each clock in at nearly eight minutes long. New listeners might get turned off by the more rambling moments, but fans familiar with the band will be able to enjoy these songs as much as anything else the band has released after a couple of listens.
It Still Moves tries its hardest to keep the subtle nuances that make My Morning Jacket so special, and under the circumstances, it largely succeeds. The recording is of top quality and the band sounds better than ever. Unlike At Dawn, with its authentic, honest and personal moments, It Still Moves sees the band progressing in the studio, performing more elaborate songs and blending into one of the most exciting rock and roll bands of our era.
1. Mahgeetah
2. Dancefloors
3. Golden
4. Master Plan
5. One Big Holiday
6. I Will Sing You Songs
7. Easy Morning Rebel
8. Run Thru
9. Rollin Back
10. Just One Thing
11. Steam Engine
12. One in the Same
More about: My Morning Jacket
