Evil Urges

Cover of Evil Urges

Available for purchase here

On June 10th 2008 My Morning Jacket released their fifth studio album on ATO Records. The album was named Evil Urges and contains 14 tracks.

  1. Evil Urges
  2. Touch Me I'm Going To Scream Pt. 1
  3. Highly Suspicious
  4. I'm Amazed
  5. Thank You Too!
  6. Sec Walkin
  7. Two Halves
  8. Librarian
  9. Look At You
  10. Aluminum Park
  11. Remnants
  12. Smokin' From Shootin'
  13. Touch Me I'm Going To Scream Pt. 2
  14. Good Intentions
The album features Jim James, Two Tone Tommy, Patrick Hallahan, Carl Broemel and Bo Koster.

All songs are written by Jim James, except "breakdown" of Evil Urges, which is credited to My Morning Jacket. The album was produced by Jim James and Joe Chiccarelli.

Recording
Hideaway Studio
In an 2008 interview with the band (Vanity Fair interview) Jim James said that the album slowly came together over a couple of years. In June 2007 the band spent a month in a rented cabin/studio (Hideaway Studio) in Colorado Springs (Vanity Fair interview and Magnet interview). In the Vanity Fair interview James also said that during this visit the band had 22 or 23 songs that they played around and learned. In other interviews James has also stated that the band was conflicted when deciding which songs would be on the album, at one point they even considered making the record into two separate pieces (Magnet Magazine). Read more about the band's time at Hideaway Studios here.

Manhattan
The band recorded the album in Manhattan, New York. In a 2002 interview Tom Blankenship explained that the band intentionally set out to have a different recording environment than the last time (Aquarian Weekly).

My Morning Jacket, Evil Urges EPK 2008

In an another interview the band describes the studio as both uncomfortable and cramped, but they also point out that this kept them focused on the task at hand (msnbc). More about the recordings in Manhattan here.

Emotional aspect
In retrospect Jim James has said that Evil Urges was the the hardest record the band's ever made (Rolling Stone) and in an 2010 interview Patrick Hallahan voiced similar opinions (Democrat and Chronicle). Read more about the band's thoughts on the subject here.

Sound/themes
In an 2008 interview Jim James says that the band both wanted to try a different sound, as well as a more seamless sound (msnbc). James brings up the band's drumming as an example, saying that it's so tight that sometimes you might be confused if it's a real person playing. In the same interview producer Joe Chiccarelli states that in his opinion Evil Urges is is the most instantly accessible, groove-oriented batch of songs that the band has done. Read more about the sound and themes here.

Influences
Coming soon...

Expectations
In an 2008 interview Jim James pointed out that it's impossible to please everyone and that he didn't want to do the same thing over and over again, but noted that there are people who would be most happy with if the band kept remaking The Tennessee Fire (AV Club). However James concluded that the end of the day the record makes itself what it wants to be and that there's only so much the band can do to meet people’s expectations, or not meet them. Read more about the bands thoughts on expectations here.



Carl Broemel, Tom Blankenship, SXSW 2008, photo by Kyle Matteson

Critical reception
In January 2009 Evil Urges ended up on the 16th spot on Spin Magazine's list of the 40 best albums of 2008.

The album was nominated for a Grammy for Best Alternative rock Album.

Album leak
Coming soon...
We’re still kind of old-fashioned with things. We understand it’s the 90s. [Reader, that’s what he said; your guess is as good as mine.] But also I feel like there’s some people who still are like us and still get excited about getting an album when a band says they can have an album. Because there’s a reason that album is supposed to come out a certain date—there’s a whole logic behind the thing.
- Jim James, talking about the album leak
(Vanity Fair interview, June 2008)