Released next week by ATO Records,
it sounds completely of a piece, and sets the stage for one of the summer’s
potentially best tours.
By Hal Bienstock
In the
chorus of Circuital‘s title track,
Jim James sings “Right back in the same place I started out.” While that may be
literally true – this is the first album the band has recorded in its home
state of Kentucky
since 2003’s It Still Moves – it’s not exactly a return to the old days. If
anything, it’s more like the musical version of someone who goes back to his
hometown after a few years away. The town may be the same, but the person
certainly isn’t. So while Circuital has
the warm, folk-based sound that characterized the band’s early work, it also
makes room for the experimentalism of its more recent albums.
In fact,
the most interesting thing about Circuital – and MMJ itself – is the way it manages to sound completely of a piece, while incorporating
tons of different sounds. Opening track “Victory Dance” sounds like Neil Young
& Crazy Horse performing with an orchestra, while the title track combines
the galloping beat of U2 with Grateful Dead harmonies. There are also steel-guitar
ballads (“Wonderful”), psychedelic funk-rock (“Holdin’ On to Black Metal”) and
catchy, alternate-universe radio hits (“First Light”).
Overall, Circuital is a strong album that stands
a notch below MMJ’s best (Z and It Still Moves). But as anyone who has
seen its live shows will attest, albums aren’t really what this band is about.
There are a lot of songs on here that should kill onstage. For now, think of Circuital as an enjoyable set of coming
attractions for what should be one of the best tours of the summer.
[Photo
Credit: Danny Clinch]
Tour Dates:
5/31
LOUISVILLE, KY
Louisville Palace
Theatre
06/02
OZARK, AR
Wakarusa Festival
(Schedule to be announced soon)
06/03
OZARK, AR
Wakarusa Festival
(Schedule to be announced soon)
06/04
OZARK, AR
Wakarusa Festival
(Schedule to be announced soon)
06/05
HUNTER,
NY
Mountain Jam
06/09
MANCHESTER, TN
Bonnaroo Festival
(Schedule to be announced soon)
06/10
MANCHESTER, TN
Bonnaroo Festival
(Schedule to be announced soon)
06/11
MANCHESTER, TN
Bonnaroo Festival
(Schedule to be announced soon)
06/12
MANCHESTER, TN
Bonnaroo Festival
(Schedule to be announced soon)
06/16
MILWAUKEE, WI
Riverside Theater
06/17
CHICAGO, IL
Auditorium Theatre
06/22
LOS ANGELES, CA
Pantages Theatre
06/24
OAKLAND, CA
Fox Theatre
06/26
SEATTLE, WA
Paramount Theatre
06/28
PORTLAND, OR
Edgefield
06/29
VANCOUVER, BC
Orpheum
06/30
QUINCY, CA
High Sierra Music
Festival (Schedule to be announced soon)
07/01
QUINCY, CA
High Sierra Music
Festival (Schedule to be announced soon)
07/02
SANTA
BARBAR, CA
Santa Barbara Bowl
07/03
QUINCY, CA
High Sierra Music
Festival
07/11
TORONTO, ON
Kool Haus
07/12
MONTREAL, QC
Metropolis
07/16
SOUTHWOLD, UK
Latitude Festival
07/17
LONDON, UK
Somerset House
08/02
ST. LOUIS, MO
The Pageant
08/03
KANSAS CITY, MO
Uptown Theater
08/04
MORRISON,
CO
Red Rocks Amphitheatre
08/05
BANGOR, ME
The KahBang Festival
08/06
BANGOR, ME
The KahBang Festival
08/07
INDIANAPOLIS, IN
The Lawn at White River
State Park (w/ Neko Case)
08/08
COLUMBUS, OH
LC Pavillion (w/ Neko
Case)
08/09
BANGOR, ME
The KahBang Festival
08/10
PITTSBURGH, PA
Stage AE (w/ Neko Case)
08/11
BANGOR, ME
The KahBang Festival
08/12
COLUMBIA, MD
Merriweather Post
Pavillion (w/ Neko Case)
08/13
BANGOR, ME
The KahBang Festival
08/14
BOSTON,
MA
Bank of America
Pavillion (w/ Neko Case)
08/16
ROCHESTER HILLS, MI
Meadow Brook (w/ Neko
Case)
08/17
CINCINNATI, OH
PNC Pavillion at Riverbend
Music Center
(w/ Neko Case)
08/20
ALPHARETTA, GA
Verizon Wireless
Amphitheatre (w/ Neko Case)
08/21
CHARLOTTE, NC
Time Warner Cable
Uptown Amphitheatre (w/ Neko Case)
09/17
AUSTIN, TX
Austin City Limits Music Festival