It’s been almost a full year, but the wait is finally over. My Morning Jacket are ready to bring their electrifying live show back on the road. The guys will make their way around the Southeastern United States this Spring, including a performance at this year’s Jazzfest in New Orleans. MMJ are also excited to both try something new with their choice for an opening act, and bring some of the spirit of NOLA along with them. The band is honored that the historic Preservation Hall Jazz Band will be supporting them on the run.

The connection with the PHJB originated in the Spring of 2009 when MMJ frontman Jim James was invited to sing with them at their home turf, New Orleans’ legendary Preservation Hall. James recorded two songs with the band: “St. James Infirmary” and “Louisiana Fairytale.” The tracks will appear on the bands forthcoming album, PRESERVATION: An Album To Benefit Preservation Hall & The Preservation Hall Music Outreach Program, out February 16th.

“When I got the invitation to go to the legendary Preservation Hall – where SO much of the music we now know and love on this earth found its early roots – I did not waste a minute,” James reminisces. “Getting to sing while the guys played with such glorious bursts of sound – all live in that holy room with the ghosts and garbage trucks crankin’ along – was an experience I’ll never forget.”

The PHJB’s leader Ben Jaffe shares his memory of playing with James: “I couldn’t have imagined Jim fitting in any better with the guys at Preservation Hall. Creating music is not a science. There is no tried and true formula. There is an unspoken bond amongst musicians. One that exists in the notes we choose. Jim’s like our long lost cousin coming home for the first time.”

MMJ Tour Dates With The Preservation Hall Jazz Band:

04/20: Birmingham, AL @ Alabama Theater

04/21: Nashville, TN @ Municipal Auditorium

04/23: Atlanta, GA @ Chastain Park

04/24: New Orleans, LA @ Jazzfest

04/27: St. Augustine, FL @ St. Augustine Amphitheater

04/28: Charleston, SC @ Family Circle

04/30: Raleigh, NC @ Koka Booth

05/01: Columbia, MD @ Merriweather Post Pavilion

05/02: Columbus, OH @ LC Outdoor Pavilion

Jim James explains: “The purpose of this EP are to provide the listener with a sensual and deeply personal method for relaxational listening. It is to be enjoyed on a candle-lit bench, a secluded nook, or a sensuous dinner party. Under the careful guidance and watchful eye of Ryan Pickett, we have developed a highly pleasing method of subtle sensation! Who knows how deep thine gentle touch? Please to enjoy this EP!”

Tracklisting:

1.) Tonight I Want To Celebrate With You
2.) Dear Wife
3.) Knot Comes Loose
4) From Nashville To Kentucky
5.) They Ran
6.) Thank You Too

“The world today is such a confused place. Things that people think are good values are obviously twisted, but there are other things considered evil that obviously aren’t. There is real evil out there, but “Evil Urges” is about how all of these things that you’ve been told are evil really aren’t, unless they’re actually hurting something or somebody.” —Jim James

There’s an old saying that every human cell in the body is changed over a period of seven years, thus every seven years we become a new person. If this is the case My Morning Jacket has defied this idiom by collectively shedding its skin innumerable times since its inception a decade ago in Louisville, Kentucky.

The past several My Morning Jacket albums have each reflected the passion that the band shares for music of all categories while continuing to nurture their signature aesthetic. Stylistically, Evil Urges is the album that My Morning Jacket has been making for almost ten years. Their previous work has emboldened them with the confidence to continue to grow in ways few artists would be capable of achieving. Admirably, Jim James’ songwriting manages to remain as organic and cohesive as ever, making their musical leaps forward fluid, logical, entertaining, and inspiring.

More than ever before, the band treated the studio itself as a musical instrument for the recording of Evil Urges. Thus co-producers Jim James and Joe Chiccarelli (The Shins, White Stripes) truly collaborated on the band’s most ambitious and convincingly executed album to date.

Although their last album, Okonokos, has been hailed as one of the best live albums of the new millennium, My Morning Jacket is a band that holds no desire to merely replicate their past work. As kinetic and transcendent as their legendary shows are, the band is not attempting to achieve concert realism with the recording of the new album. Within opening track, “Evil Urges,” alone, this focused eclecticism is immediately evident. It is clear that My Morning Jacket have officially outgrown their ‘best live band’ label. Now, Jim James (guitar, vox), Two Tone Tommy (bass), Patrick Hallahan (drums), Carl Broemel (guitar) and Bo Koster (keys) are ready to be the best band, period.

Corporate line:
There’s an old saying that every human cell in the body is changed over a period of seven years, thus every seven years we become a new person. If this is the case My Morning Jacket has defied this idiom by collectively shedding its skin innumerable times since its inception a decade ago in Louisville, Kentucky.

The past several My Morning Jacket albums have each reflected the passion that the band shares for music of all categories while continuing to nurture their signature aesthetic. Stylistically, “Evil Urges” is the album that My Morning Jacket has been making for almost ten years. Their previous work has emboldened them with the confidence to continue to grow in ways few artists would be capable of achieving. Admirably, Jim James’ songwriting manages to remain as organic and cohesive as ever, making their musical leaps forward fluid, logical, entertaining, and inspiring.

More than ever before, the band treated the studio itself as a musical instrument for the recording of “Evil Urges.” Thus co-producers Jim James and Joe Chiccarelli (The Shins, White Stripes) truly collaborated on the band’s most ambitious and convincingly executed album to date.

Although their last album, Okonokos, has been hailed as one of the best live albums of the new millennium, My Morning Jacket is a band that holds no desire to merely replicate their past work. As kinetic and transcendent as their legendary shows are, the band is not attempting to achieve concert realism with the recording of the new album. Within opening track, “Evil Urges,” alone, this focused eclecticism is immediately evident. It is clear that My Morning Jacket have officially outgrown their ‘best live band’ label. Now, Jim James (guitar, vox), Two Tone Tommy (bass), Patrick Hallahan (drums), Carl Broemel (guitar) and Bo Koster (keys) are ready to be the best band, period.

The good stuff:
“Librarian” – The must buy song on the album.
“Evil Urges” – Southern rock with what sounds like Prince at the helm, well not exactly, but I’m trying to paint a picture.
“Touch Me I’m Going to Scream, Part 1″ – It takes a few listens but it’s worth ever minute.
“I’m Amazed” – A brilliantly beautiful track that keeps you swaying in southern bliss–same goes for “Sec Walkin.”
“Smokin From Shootin’” and “Touch Me I’m Going To Scream, Part 2″ – Start to get into Pink Floyd territory.

The rest:
“Highly Suspicious” – This sounds like Prince if someone was squeezing his boys.

Finally:
My Morning Jacket has released a brilliant release. It’s not easy to sum it up but its damn good. If you haven’t dove into these guys yet–you should.