Evil Urges

Evil Urges
Studio album by My Morning Jacket
Released June 7, 2008
Recorded Avatar Studios, New York City November 2007[1]
Genre Indie rock
Neo-psychedelia
Length 55:39
Label ATO (US/Canada)
Rough Trade (UK)
Spunk (Australia)
Producer Joe Chiccarelli and Jim James
My Morning Jacket chronology

At Dawn/Tennessee Fire Demos Package
(2007)		 Evil Urges
(2008)		 Circuital
(2011)
Professional ratings
Review scores
Source Rating
The A.V. Club B[2]
Allmusic [3]
Blender [4]
Crawdaddy! favorable
"Drowned in Sound" [5]
Entertainment Weekly A[6]
The Guardian [7]
Pitchfork Media (4.7/10.0)[8]
PopMatters [9]
Rolling Stone
Spin [10]

Evil Urges is the fifth studio album by My Morning Jacket. It was released by ATO Records on June 10, 2008.[11] The cover was by Gary Burden.

Writing and recording

Writing began in Colorado, while recording was done in Manhattan.[12] According to producer Joe Chiccarelli, the demos he was sent, which were "very groove-oriented with hints of old-fashioned R&B", suggested a more urban record than previous albums, and as such he recommended the band record in an urban environment that had some "life and vitality".[13] After looking into various options including Vancouver and San Francisco, the band eventually decided to record in New York.[13]

Singer and lead songwriter Jim James said that the band wanted to get away from "normal rock and roll sounds" and emulate more of the band's live sound.[14] Many of the songs were previewed at the 2008 South by Southwest music festival.[15]

Promotion

My Morning Jacket played "I'm Amazed" and "Evil Urges" on Saturday Night Live on May 10, 2008.[16] At the Bonnaroo Music Festival in June 2008, the band played a near four hour set, playing all songs on the album except "Look at You" and "Remnants".

The season six premiere of The CW's teen drama One Tree Hill was titled "Touch Me I'm Going to Scream" and featured the songs "Highly Suspicious" and "Look at You." [17]

Track listing

All songs written by Jim James, except for "Evil Urges", the song's bridge, "Breakdown", is credited to My Morning Jacket.

  1. "Evil Urges" – 5:14
  2. "Touch Me I'm Going to Scream Pt.1" – 3:51
  3. "Highly Suspicious" – 3:07
  4. "I'm Amazed" – 4:35
  5. "Thank You Too!" – 4:29
  6. "Sec Walkin" – 3:37
  7. "Two Halves" – 2:36
  8. "Librarian" – 4:18
  9. "Look at You" – 3:30
  10. "Aluminum Park" – 3:58
  11. "Remnants" – 3:04
  12. "Smokin from Shootin" – 5:07
  13. "Touch Me I'm Going to Scream Pt.2" – 8:14
  14. "Good Intentions" – 0:06

Personnel

My Morning Jacket

Additional personnel

Assistance

Accolades

Publication Country Accolade Year Rank
WXPN Philadelphia US 50 Best Albums of the Year 2008 #4[18]
WERS Boston US 50 Best Albums of the Year 2008 #10[19]
Rolling Stone US 50 Best Albums of the Year 2008 #4[20]
Spin US 40 Best Albums of the Year 2008 #16[21]
Q UK 50 Best Albums of the Year 2008 #4[22]

References