Two Out Of Three Ain’t Bad

SteveK, on the latest from My Morning Jacket, Misery Signals and Coldplay.

My Morning Jacket: Evil Urges

Arguably, the 1970s was one of the best eras for Rock and Roll. It was the era of the super-group, when iconic bands like Aerosmith, Rush, Chicago, The Eagles, Lynyrd Skynyrd and others delivered some of the most universally recognized and quintessential rock music around. The down-home, good-time little-bit-of-country rock of the 1970s, is as distinctive as the grating treble-charged angry-at-the-world, fuck-it-who-cares rock of the 1990s, and like all good music should, it typifies the era from which it spawned.

Having said that, it’s a rare treat to come across a new music act that not only draws its inspiration from, but manages to embody and revive a bygone era, of Rock history. Enter My Morning Jacket.

CONFRONT Correspondent Gemma Pietrollino first turned us on to My Morning Jacket earlier this year. I had the good fortune of catching their appearance on Saturday Night Live, back in May; I was most impressed, though I thought their overall image was entirely too “Dork Chic” for my tastes.

My Morning Jacket has been around for a decade, but the band has gone through so many changes (and released a number of indie albums before the 2003 release of ‘It Still Moves’ and then ‘Z’ in 2005) in that time, that it’s hard not to quantify them as a young band. ‘Evil Urges’ however, demonstrates that My Morning Jacket are experienced, accomplished musicians.

The album is a pleasure to listen to. Not because of the throwback-70s-Rock sound and feel, but because this isn’t just some retro-hipster shtick; this is the genuine article. And as evident as that is on the arena-rock “I’m Amazed” and “Evil Urges”, My Morning Jacket’s sincerity is most evident on their haunting, heavily Country-Rock influenced ballads, like “Librarian”.

As modern an album as ‘Evil Urges’ actually is, it plays easily and seamlessly alongside its predecessors from the 1970s. I will confidently make the claim here and now, that this is the album for which My Morning Jacket will be remembered. ‘Evil Urges’ is their Magnum Opus, and until proven otherwise by time not yet passed, let me also add that it just does not get any better than this.

My Morning Jacket: Evil Urges
Ato Records
Steve’s Rating: 10/10

Misery Signals: Controller

One of the really neat things about working for a music magazine, is a lot of times we get the swag before anyone else does. Case in point, I’ve had the opportunity this week to listen to ‘Controller’, the forthcoming new release from Wisconsin Metalheads, Misery Signals. The album won’t come out until late July, but I got to be one of the lucky few to hear it first.

This album is a little hit-and-miss for me. I love the high concept idea which inspired its creation, but the songs don’t quite have that punch that I’d expected, especially after the rich complexity of 2006′s ‘Mirrors’.

The recording and production of ‘Controller’ came hot on the heels of an extensive touring schedule for the aforementioned 2006 album. Perhaps that explains why the album feels somewhat rushed, somewhat tired.

The concept of the album is great, and certainly something that I, as an avid fan of sci-fi and conspiracy theories can relate to: “The most consistent theme of the record is…about how we are controlled by our own paths and history,” Stu Ross, guitarist for Misery Signals explains, “And how we have to make a conscious effort to change the direction we are headed…”

The 10 songs that make up the concept piece are appropriately hard-lined and refreshingly insightful, especially on tracks like “Ebb and Flow” and “Parallels”. Karl Schubach’s vocals alternate between a brutal, demonic roar and occasional bursts of post-Grunge bridging, delivering an appropriate level of force to the songs. An added plus is that I could understand the lyrics, which, as a musical curmudgeon, I require.

Yet despite all that this album has going for it, I felt there was a certain contrivance to it al; that it was a little too forced, without quite enough energy or force of presence to completely pull it off. I can understand the artistic impulse that drove them into the studio so soon after two years of touring. However, I feel that had they been better rested, the album would have been absolutely flawless.

I expect that what will do real justice to the material on this album will be the live shows, because it is onstage that Misery Signals best live up to their reputation, and with that in mind I’m looking forward to their next trip into Montreal.

Misery Signals: Controller
Ferret
Steve’s Rating: 7/10

Coldplay: Viva La Vida

Despite any aspersions cast upon Coldplay by Seth Rogen in “The Forty Year Old Virgin”, I really enjoy their music.

However, I, like many others, noticed that ‘X&Y’ sounded a lot like ‘A Rush of Blood to the Head’ which sounded a lot like ‘Parachutes’. So, I guess it’s fair to say I was expecting more of the same from the latest CD from Chris Martin and Friends.

While Martin’s distinctive falsetto and the signature ringing, chiming guitar work of Johnny Buckland are ever present elements on ‘Viva La Vida’, Coldplay’s fourth studio album, the album succeeds in being somehow completely different than what’s come before.

The songs are a little bit less melancholy, and have gone from being brooding to being pensive. There’s more variation from one song to the next, and while core elements such as stanza repetition in hooks and chorus remain, this is Coldplay’s first more evidently mature album.

From the opening of “Life in Technicolor” to “Death and All His Friends”, Coldplay takes us on a journey with this album, a loosely-woven study of life and living it. “Violet Hill”, the first single off the album is an unabashed anti-war protest anthem, which manages to be both understated and powerful at once.

This is the Coldplay album we’ve been waiting for, with a richer sound, more complex subject matter and a maturation to the band’s distinctive style. It is nothing short of perfection.

Coldplay: Viva La Vida
Capitol
Steve’s Rating 10/10

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