Heard "Highly Suspicious" on the radio the other day, and it's been a while since a song has made me laugh out loud so much. Those backing vocals...and when Jim James starts making borderline retarded laughing noises... Pity the song is fairly crappy, musically

quote:

Originally posted by thefanste:
Heard "Highly Suspicious" on the radio the other day, and it's been a while since a song has made me laugh out loud so much. Those backing vocals...and when Jim James starts making borderline retarded laughing noises... Pity the song is fairly crappy, musically

You heard that song on the radio? Seriously?

Yeah pretty bizarre hey, it's not even the single right? The announcer introduced it as quite a change in sound for the band, and after when he back announced it he was obviously trying not to laugh - I think he found it just as amusing a song as I did, heh.

I've been reading the early reviews for this one. Here are some of MC's favorites:

EW.com - A
MusicOMH - 5/5
Spin - 4.5/5
Rollingstone - 4/5
Tiny Mix Tapes - 4/5
Drown in Sound - 6/10
Guardian UK - 3/5
P4k - 4.7

Seems like a very polarizing album.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: The Fall of Troy,

I liked it after the first listen, but the more I listen to it the worse it gets. It is EXTREMELY disappointing after hearing Z and their double live album (which is incredible). I really love the song "Sec Walkin'" but other than that I have to say pitchforks' score is probably the most accurate.

AV Club gave it a B. I read the pitchfork review and I disagree with it. It seems like the reviewer just trashed it because he wasn't fond of the new direction (the Prince-esque falsetto stuff) that MMJ explore in songs like Evil Urges and Highly Suspicious. But then again a review is just a personal opinion.

I tend to agree with the assessment that this album has become (or already is) quite polarizing. I really don't understand why that is. So they don't have the incredibly reverbed vocals they once had (they do, but just not on every single song), and they decided to throw in some Dance-type stuff, some R & B/ Prince-esque experimentation, and some understated near-folk balladry.

Band's should be at least commended for attempting such a dramatic re-envisioning of their career, sort of like how Z was applauded for changing up their formula a bit. So if Z was their Soft Bulletin (according to p4k), than i guess this is their Yoshimi. Seriously, the band's have so few similarities, i don't know why the numb-nut writer decided to draw that parallel.

Actually, maybe they just bypassed "Yoshimi" and went straight to "At War With The Mystics," which i kind of think this album mirrors in terms of a career trajectory... Uhhh, if you take out the first decade and a half of the Flaming Lips' discography.

Anyways, there is a great interview with My Morning Jacket's lead-singer and chief songwriter, Jim James, here. I think that James' answer to the interviewer's first question best explains why people feel the way they do towards this album.

It's an awesome album by the way, but then again, they're a given for a fan that's loved them for almost a decade now.

It's at The A. V. Club; which is actually the best online site. What? Really? Yeah, it is.

The A.V. Club is Denver/Boulder. Hellz yeah, gotta represent the hood.

I've listened to the album three times now, and I cannot understand the negative reaction to it. I instantly liked this album. I can't say the same for Z, which I only gained an appreciation for after hearing the songs played live on Okonokos.

The only track that is iffy is "Highly Suspicious", but even that track is not bad. It's just different.

I'd say right now it's in my top 5, but that may change over time.

At first I thought this album was kind of blah, but after a few more, one with headphones on a walk tonight, I think it's pretty good. I've always been a fan of the weirder MMJ stuff, and the beginning and ending of the album don't disappoint. I think the middle sags a bit when the songs become a bit more conventional.

And count me in with the "Highly Suspicious" fans.

As a whole, I don't think the album is that polarizing. There are obviously a few tracks that you either tolerate or hate, but the bulk of the album is easy listening soft rock. Its neither bad or that great, its just kind of average. And with so much great music out there, this one won't get much playtime with me.

These songs are amazing live.... They performed the entire album at a small instore yesterday. Even the "dull" moments i've heard mention of are nothing short of incredible in person.

As far as the recording goes, not as good as "Z", but easily their second best effort. It's a grower, and by year's end this album will be considered amongst the best of the year.

For the record, I'm a "Highly Suspicious" fan. Easily the most entertaining song on the album albeit one of the weakest musically... so much fun to hear live, and awesome turned up loud in the car.

I've been listening to this again lately. You know, it's really grown on me. I still hate "Highly Suspicious", and have mild distaste for "Evil Urges", but every other song is pretty solid for me. "Librarian" is still my favorite song.

quote:

It is EXTREMELY disappointing after hearing Z and their double live album (which is incredible).

It's at The A. V. Club; which is actually the best online site. What? Really? Yeah, it is

At first I thought this album was kind of blah, but after a few more, one with headphones on a walk tonight, I think it's pretty good.

These songs are amazing live....

"Librarian" is still my favorite song.

I agree with all these statements.

"Librarian" is easily the one song that soured me on this album. Just pure tripe that they should be ashamed to have made.

I say this as a huge fan of "Highly Suspicious."

Am I seriously the only person who just really loves this album. The whole thing sounds like a broadcast from some bizarre FM radio station. I feel like the biggest problem some people are having with this album is production. I think if you took some of the studio polish off tracks like "Sec Walkin'" or "Thank you too!" and addded a little extra reverb people would be calling them classic MMJ. I personally don't have a problem with a more accessible sound, it only adds to the inclusiveness of My Morning Jacket's music. Jim James has been very open about his desire to introduce listeners to genres of music they may not be familiar with. Even if the album doesn't grab you My Morning Jacket should at least be commended for creating a work that explores so many disparate genres: R&B, Funk, country rock, soft rock, folk balladry, doo wop, disco,etc. To me the album is just a logical progression from Z (though I will admit it is not as cohesive as that album). Honestly the only songs that don't grab me much are "Aluminum Park" and "Look at You".

quote:

Originally posted by Chamberk:
"Librarian" is easily the one song that soured me on this album. Just pure tripe that they should be ashamed to have made.

I say this as a huge fan of "Highly Suspicious."

Apparently there are no hot librarians in your area....

It's such a tired cliche, that's all. The cute librarian who lets her hair down and takes off her glasses and she's all of a sudden a babe? That's straight out of an 80s hair metal music video.

And let's not forget, 90% of librarians are like 50+, if you want those ladies to let down their hair and take off their glasses feel free.

Actually, i saw a librarian at law school who was a total "babe" ... Okay i'm done with that.

This album is great in my opinion. I don't get the seemingly negative reaction to it. Sure, "Highly Suspicious" is a little bizarre, maybe even a bit stupid, but it's a fun song from a band that let's loose and knows how to have fun. To me that matters when everything else i listen to is so deadly serious. This album puts fun back into the equation, something (mostly) missing from the indie world at this point in time.