Artist My Morning Jacket

C. Taylor Crothers

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My Morning Jacket

Ever since 2005’s critically adored Z, My Morning Jacket has garnered a lot of attention for being something that’s all too rare: a good, old-fashioned Southern rock band with arty ambitions. That means the guys in the band have both hair and brains that are known to swing around, and the mystique certainly adds to a string of albums that are strong and digressive. The band has expanded its palette in recent years to include everything from funk to prog and Prince-inspired pop. MMJ’s latest album,Circuital, isn’t quite as wonky as 2008’s Evil Urges, but it does have its left-field pleasures: “Holdin’ On To Black Metal” is sprinkled with retro girl-band backing vocals and beefy brass, while “Out Of My System” sounds like a forgotten track from ’60s novelty group The Royal Guardsmen. It’s a heady mix, and one that finds singer Jim James and company venturing further out into unexpected musical territory.

Updated 07/21/2011