David Bazan shines down on the City of Angeles on November 8, 2008. Live at Fuller. Get tickets online at EmpyFramesProductions.com And while you’re there check out the free tracks on their blog. Tickets are selling super fast - get them while you can.

My Morning Jacket’s Evil Urges took my by a but of surprise. The earlier release, Z received critical acclaim and this new record definitely has me talking as well. The record runs in and out of 70s rock, Prince esque vocal bursts, and stripped down ballads that are more sweet than make one want to roll the eyes.

The record is strong. At first it’s a little intimidating and moments where I wonder where these songs took their roots and how they ended up together on the record. It’s a fun record taking a number of twists and turns. It’s fun that each song represents a different influence. The 70s rock bands, the vocals of Prince and Wayne Cohen (the Flaming Lips), doo-woop, soul, and soft songs that James Taylor or Paul Simon could easily have written. I think the record shares the beauty of mystique. It’s not easy to pin down or figure out exactly but that’s what I enjoy about this record and enjoy most about this band.

With the disappointing boring release of Coldplay’s Viva La Vida it’s nice to know that bands are willing and able to explore musical genres and styles. I like when a record makes you go back and give it another go around. Evil Urges begs you to do this. There seem to be an erasure of boundaries of what is cool and what shouldn’t be done on this record. It is strong and worth being heard and then reheard.

All that being said the record is smart and accessible. I had it playing with my father around and he wanted a copy (my dad is great but music is not his thing). The hard working rock band will be on tour this summer. If they are in your town you must check them out. I hear they are even better live.

Summer/Fall 2008 Tour Dates:
8/15 - Nashville, TN - Riverfront Park
8/16 - Louisville, KY - The Great Lawn @ Waterfront Park
8/18 - Kansas City, MO - Uptown Theater
8/19 - Council Bluffs, IA - Stir Cove
8/21 - Denver, CO - Red Rocks Amphitheatre
8/23 - Dallas, TX - Palladium Ballroom
8/24 - Austin, TX - Stubb’s
8/27 - Atlanta, GA - Fox Theater
8/29 - Miami, FL - The Fillmore Miami Beach
8/30 - Orlando, FL - House of Blues
8/31 - Myrtle Beach, SC - House of Blues
9/3 - Washington, DC - Constitution Hall
9/4 - Charlottesville, VA - Charlottesville Pavilion
9/5 - Philadelphia, PA - Festival Pier at Penn’s Landing
9/6 - Boston, MA - Bank of America Pavilion
9/19 - San Francisco, CA - Greek Theatre
9/21 - Los Angeles, CA - Greek Theatre
9/23 - Phoenix, AZ - Marquee Theatre
9/24 - Las Vegas, NV - The Joint
9/25 - San Diego, CA - SDSU Open Air Theatre
9/27 - Portland, OR - McMenamins Edgefield Amphitheater
9/28 - Seattle, WA - McCaw Hall
10/2 - Minneapolis, MN - Orpheum Theatre
10/3 - Milwaukee, WI - Riverside Theater
10/4 - Detroit, MI - The Fillmore
10/9 - Chicago, IL - Chicago Theatre
10/10 - Chicago, IL - Chicago Theatre