My Morning Jacket - is

My Morning Jacket - is


My Morning Jacket's tenth studio album, is, released on March 21, 2025, marks a significant evolution in the band's sound and creative process. Departing from their tradition of self-producing, the band enlisted renowned producer Brendan O'Brien—known for his work with artists like Bruce Springsteen—to helm the project. This collaboration introduced a fresh dynamic, with frontman Jim James describing the experience as both liberating and enlightening.

🎵 Album Overview

  • Title: is

  • Release Date: March 21, 2025

  • Label: ATO Records

  • Producer: Brendan O'Brien

  • Recording Studio: Henson Recording Studios

  • Genre: Rock, with elements of psych-soul and country-gothic

  • Length: Approximately 40 minutes

The album comprises ten tracks, including the singles "Time Waited," "Squid Ink," and "Half a Lifetime." Notably, "Half a Lifetime" is a song the band began working on during sessions for their 2005 album Z, bringing a sense of continuity and reflection to the new release.

🎧 Critical Reception

is has garnered a range of responses from critics:

  • Rolling Stone: Praised the album's "economy and texture," highlighting the "restraint" in tracks like "I Can Hear Your Love," and comparing Jim James' vocals to those of Roy Orbison.

  • Uncut: Described the album as "the quintet's most vibrant album in two decades," emphasizing the successful collaboration with O'Brien.

  • Pitchfork: Offered a more tempered view, rating the album 6.0 out of 10. The review acknowledged the album as "the epitome of a modern My Morning Jacket LP" but noted a lack of the adventurousness that characterized the band's earlier work.

🎶 Track Listing

  1. Out in the Open

  2. Half a Lifetime

  3. Everyday Magic

  4. I Can Hear Your Love

  5. Time Waited

  6. Beginning from the Ending

  7. Lemme Know

  8. Squid Ink

  9. Die for It

  10. River Road

is represents a mature and polished chapter in My Morning Jacket's discography, blending their signature sound with new production influences. While some critics note a departure from the band's earlier experimental edge, the album offers a cohesive and introspective listening experience that resonates with both longtime fans and new listeners.