My Morning Jacket is set to release their highly anticipated 10th studio album, Is, on March 21 via ATO Records. This marks the band’s first new full-length album in over three years, produced by Grammy-winning producer Brendan O’Brien, known for his work with Bruce Springsteen and Pearl Jam.
The Louisville-based band, which has historically self-produced their albums, recorded Is mostly at Henson Recording Studios in Los Angeles with O’Brien at the helm. Lead singer and guitarist Jim James, who has co-produced all the band’s previous records since their 1999 debut, shared in a statement that the decision to work with O’Brien stemmed from a “newfound willingness to open up their process and involve an outside creative force.”
James reflected on the experience, admitting it was initially difficult to relinquish control but ultimately rewarding: “It almost felt like an out-of-body experience to step back and give control over to someone who’s far more accomplished and made so many more records than us. But in the end, I was able to enjoy the process maybe more than I ever have before.”
The first single from the album, Time Waited, was released on January 15 along with a dreamy, Danny Clinch-directed video. Known for his iconic work with the Foo Fighters and Pearl Jam, Clinch’s video blends performance footage with whimsical imagery, including floating flowers and archival photos, celebrating the band’s 25-year history.
James revealed the inspiration behind Time Waited, which began as a piano loop he discovered on pedal steel legend Buddy Emmons’ 1969 album Emmons Guitar Inc. “I made a loop of that piano intro and listened as I went for a walk, and all these melodies started coming to me,” James explained. “For a long time, I didn’t have lyrics, but then I had a dream where I was in a café and a song was playing, and the lyrics to that song became the lyrics to ‘Time Waited.’”
Lyrically, Time Waited explores the fluidity of time, how it can be shaped and bent, particularly when following one’s heart. James sings over a hypnotic piano and gentle drums: “Well they say time waits for no one dear / And it takes near death to show one, yeah / But time waited… for you and me.” The track evolves into one of the band’s signature psychedelic pop slow-burns, setting the tone for the album to come.
Fans can expect Is to be a reflection of both the band’s sonic evolution and their willingness to explore new creative frontiers.
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