My Morning Jacket: Circuital

There's a spiritual simpleness to this album. In my past experience with My Morning Jacket, they tend toward the elaborate, the psychedelic, the showy: tracks like "I'm Amazed" and "Evil Urges" that demonstrate unbridled enthusiasm for creation: imagination and technical wizardry. Here the boldness is toned down, but I still think the album carries that inventiveness. They've managed to learn how to get a lot of mileage out of a lot less.

Even the brassier, bolder songs on this album have a modesty to them. Something like "Holdin' On To Black Metal" or "First Light" announces itself as special but still feels grounded. "The Day Is Coming" feels like a hymn or a sermon, but still never needs to puff itself up. Both it and the opening track, "Victory Dance" use their sheared-down sound, standing on towering drums, to sound huge without needing to slap on a bunch of decorations.

The heart of the album is in some of the quieter moments. "Wonderful (The Way I Feel)" is delivered with an earnest vulnerability, really carrying the lyrics of "Going where there ain't no fear, going where the spirit is near... where the living is easy, and the people are kind, with its picked guitars sitting on top of light strings. "Outta My System" is probably the strongest lyric on the album, where songwriter Jim "Yim Yames" James details his growth from a drug-taking, car-stealing thug to a responsible, married adult. He speaks fondly of his former self, not passing judgment, understanding he did what he felt was right at the time but wouldn't behave that way anymore. The way the song is delivered demonstrates the perspective, and manages to engage the issue of growing up without outright saying "Kids are dumb" or "Adults are lame." A lot of the album takes this serene attitude toward the idea of growing and changing, like "Movin' Out," which marvels at the opportunity to create a new life for oneself.

The finest moment of the album is probably the title track, which manages to sustain itself for 7-plus minutes without dragging or needing to be built out of suites (not unprecedented but not common.) It starts un-peeling its rhythmic riff as James croons, building to its apex as the moan becomes a howl.

In general, the album has a relaxed, easygoing vibe to it, perfect for latter-day hippies. "Slow Slow Tune" with its ringing guitars and staggered drums, is an ultimate slow jam. I think it's healthy to have something like this in your musical diet, even with my general preference for exciting, lively tunes. It helps clear the mind a bit, to unwind. It's not one I find myself excitedly pushing on people, because I'm concerned they'll listen to the generally mellow tones and murmured lyrics, and go "So?" But when you sit down with it, given a chance, it'll speak to you. One of those great albums that matches its thoughts with its way of speaking, big and small at once.

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