Evil Urges
by My Morning Jacket
Metascore
67

Generally favorable reviews - based on 31 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 17 out of 31
  2. Mixed: 12 out of 31
  3. Negative: 2 out of 31
  1. Pitchfork
    47
    There are few fiery guitar freakouts, folk-influenced melodies, soaring space-rock bridges, or psychedelic flourishes here; instead, the empty space is mostly filled with serviceable falsetto funk and glassy-eyed yacht-pop.
  2. PopMatters
    50
    Evil Urges sounds like an album that falls short of its mark, committing the whole to a sound that ultimately weakens and breaks down its parts.
  3. Uncut
    60
    If 2005's "Z" flirted with cautiously with funk synths and a more direct pop sound, Evil Urges makes it a full-blown, messy tryst.
  5. Mojo
    60
    Heard back to back they almost make sense, but the sequencing here amplifies the disjointed feel of an album that facinates and frustrates in equal measure. [July 2008, p.108]
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  6. Q Magazine
    60
    The Fleetwood Mac-tinged 'Touch Me I'm Going to Scream Part 2' overcomes the overall air of pastiche. [July 2008, p.108]
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  7. The Guardian
    60
    They're not the first current band to find new value in the big sounds and large lapels of Fleetwood Mac and the Eagles, but appear to be doing so without irony and something approaching childlike zeal.
  8. Drowned In Sound
    60
    Where the separate parts of the first half didn't gel – the chopping and changing of different styles too much to take in, perhaps, in too short a period--the second part is much easier to handle, and whilst the strong finish isn't enough to stop it falling short of "Z," Evil Urges does find its own place given time.
  9. NOW Magazine
    60
    Scattered and uneven, but not without its charms.
  10. Prefix Magazine
    55
    Ultimately, though, this is a definite misfire in an otherwise impeccable career.
  11. Austin Chronicle
    40
    As much as Evil Urges indulges, it rarely satisfies.
  12. Dot Music
    60
    Evil Urges isn't a bad album by any stretch of the imagination but it still manages to fall well short of expectations when applying the benchmark set by this fine band.
  13. Urb
    60
    The album engages after repeats, but initially offers volume's immediacy over intimacy.

Awards & Rankings

47
#47 Most Discussed Album of 2008

User Reviews

All reviews »
User Score
7.5

Generally favorable reviews- based on 73 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 51 out of 73
  2. Mixed: 16 out of 73
  3. Negative: 6 out of 73
  1. bhsmall
    Jul 27, 2020
    8
    What an album. You got some cool psychedelic, ballads, and hard rockers for all to enjoy.
  2. hikeminds
    Jul 3, 2015
    10
    The album that got me into My Morning Jacket. While some have criticized the sound of Evil Urges as being too diverse and lacking in focus, IThe album that got me into My Morning Jacket. While some have criticized the sound of Evil Urges as being too diverse and lacking in focus, I find it actually does a perfect job of capturing the magic of MMJ: namely, the band's ability to shape-shift on the fly, offering disparate sounds that are nonetheless compelling and always anchored by Jim James' incomparable voice.… Full Review »
  3. riaan_radiohead
    May 7, 2015
    5
    Evil Urges is a major misfire and a hugely disappointing follow-up to the universally adored 'Z'. MMJ have taken some artistic risks withEvil Urges is a major misfire and a hugely disappointing follow-up to the universally adored 'Z'. MMJ have taken some artistic risks with this album and unfortunately none of the experimentation works. "Highly Suspicious" sounds completely out of character and is poor homage to Prince. Overall the album is a patchy collection of their weakest songs shifting uneasily between different influences. Such a shame though, as a "Z' was clearly one of the finest albums of the 00's… Full Review »
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