By Ian Bremner

There is the famous adage, “you can’t judge a book by its cover,” but that is usually when a book with a really sweet cover turns out to be shitty book. The same can be said for movies and albums, but that is not always the case. My Morning Jacket‘s 8th album (with scattered EPs and solo projects), The Waterfall, matches is cover’s spring time feeling. There is no babbling brooks or gusts of wind or even waterfall sounds, but the record plays from start to finish with a refreshing, natural vibe.

Ring leader Jim James‘ signature croons & roars are all over the record, with a heavy, guitar-driven sound that has made My Morning Jacket such a large presence in modern rock n roll.

My Morning Jacket is somewhat of an enigma. Their live shows have a reputable lore and their catalog is so deep and diverse, that they are one of the few bands where even die-hard fans can hate some of the songs. The Waterfall is by far one of their most listenable albums in years. MMJ fans new and old can sit back in the sun or in the car and enjoy the hell out of it.

There is usually a cash-grab stigma about releasing 2 albums back to back, but that is not the case either. The Waterfall should energize fans into knowing there is another album on the way. At 47 minutes (10 songs), adding another full album on the back end of The Waterfall, making it a double album would put its flow in jeopardy. The right move would be to soak in this chapter in full comprehension and wait for the next one to start in due time. It’s certainly a page turner.

Big Decisions is first single

THE WATERFALL via spotify

 

Brittany Howard from the Alabama Shakes with My Morning Jacket covering It Makes No Difference

Erykah Badu performing her Tyrone with help from Jim James and MMJ