Circuital
Circuital is the sixth studio album by the American rock band My Morning Jacket, released on May 31, 2011, by ATO Records.[1] The record was co-produced by frontman Jim James (under the pseudonym Yim Yames) and Tucker Martine, and primarily recorded live to analog tape in a converted church gymnasium known as "In Heaven" in the band's hometown of Louisville, Kentucky.[2][3] Featuring ten tracks with a total runtime of 45 minutes and 3 seconds, the album blends alternative rock, indie rock, and folk rock elements, drawing on the band's signature psychedelic and Southern influences.[4][5] The album represents a return to My Morning Jacket's roots-oriented sound after the more experimental Evil Urges (2008), emphasizing organic, communal recording sessions that captured the band's live energy and interplay.[6] Key tracks include the sprawling title song "Circuital," which opens with a circuitous jam structure, and the ritualistic opener "Victory Dance," both showcasing Jim James's soaring vocals and the group's dynamic instrumentation.[7] Circuital received generally favorable critical reception, with a Metascore of 76 out of 100 on Metacritic based on 36 reviews, praising its cohesive warmth and return to form while noting it as less ambitious than prior works.[8] Publications such as Pitchfork highlighted its nod to earlier albums like Z (2005), describing it as a "solid, unpretentious" effort that reaffirms the band's strengths in melody and atmosphere.[6] The album earned a Grammy nomination for Best Alternative Music Album at the 54th Annual Grammy Awards and, in 2022, a deluxe edition was issued featuring bonus live tracks, demos, and alternate mixes.[9][1]Background and recording
Development
Following the release of their 2008 album Evil Urges, which was recorded in upstate New York, My Morning Jacket returned to their hometown of Louisville, Kentucky, for the creation of Circuital, marking a deliberate homecoming that infused the project with a sense of roots and familiarity.[3] This shift emphasized a thematic reconnection to the band's origins, as frontman Jim James described the process as "kind of full circle," allowing the group to draw from the organic energy of their Southern surroundings after years of recording in distant locations like New York and California.[3][10] The album's conception was heavily influenced by 1970s rock, psychedelia, and Americana traditions, with James citing echoes of Neil Young and The Band as key touchstones for its rugged, reverberant sound.[3] These elements guided the band's exploration of folksy, psychedelic Southern rock, representing a return to their core style after the funkier experiments of Evil Urges.[10] James sought to channel the patient, unhurried creativity of artists like Neil Young, prioritizing a raw aesthetic over polished production.[11] Post-Evil Urges, James's personal motivations centered on fostering organic songwriting free from external pressures, reacting against the rapid pace of modern life and technology by embracing casual, exploratory methods reminiscent of vintage recording pioneers like Sly and the Family Stone.[11] He built a home studio to experiment freely with instruments, aiming for a peaceful and concise creative environment that allowed ideas to develop naturally.[11] Songwriting for Circuital began in late 2009, with James capturing initial demos informally in this low-pressure setting before the band transitioned to full recording sessions.[3]Studio sessions
The recording sessions for Circuital primarily took place in a converted church gymnasium in Louisville, Kentucky, known as "In Heaven," beginning in October 2010 and extending into early 2011.[12][3] The band embraced a collaborative approach, gathering as a unit to jam and develop ideas organically, with most tracks captured live in the room without extensive overdubs to preserve a raw, immediate energy.[13][14] Additional recording occurred at Jim James's home studio, Removador Fun Ranch.[12]Production techniques
The production of Circuital emphasized capturing a warm, organic sound through analog tape recording, utilizing a Studer 2-inch tape machine to record live performances directly, which preserved transients and imparted a distinctive warmth to elements like cymbals.[15] This approach was facilitated by vintage equipment, including a Trident mixing console for both tracking and initial mixing stages, enhancing the album's analog character while transfers to Pro Tools at 96kHz/24-bit allowed for subtle digital refinements.[15] The sessions, held primarily in a converted church gymnasium in Louisville, Kentucky, leveraged the space's natural acoustics to contribute to the live feel, with minimal post-production intervention to maintain authenticity.[3] To achieve this immediacy, the band prioritized first-take performances during live ensemble recordings, including main vocals alongside instruments, aiming to harness the initial energy and reduce overthinking.[16] Overdubs were kept minimal, limited primarily to enhancements like strings, keyboards, and select guitar layers, avoiding excessive layering that could dilute the raw band dynamic; final mixes were printed to 1/4-inch tape for added sonic cohesion.[16][15] Mixing duties were shared by Jim James and Tucker Martine across various studios, with the bulk completed at Blackbird Studio in Nashville, Tennessee, where final touches were applied in early 2011 to refine the balance before mastering.[17][18] Specific techniques included blending layered guitars—combining electric and acoustic fingerpicking for textural depth, as on "Wonderful (The Way I Feel)"—with reverb-heavy drums that drew from the gymnasium's cavernous echoes and a custom reverb tank, alongside acoustic elements to fuse rock and folk timbres seamlessly.[19][19]Composition and lyrics
Musical style
Circuital embodies a fusion of psychedelic rock, Southern rock, and folk influences, channeling the warm, eclectic vibe of 1970s FM radio programming through its guitar-centric palette.[6][20] The album's sonic framework prioritizes expansive, organic arrangements that build from intimate acoustic textures to sweeping, layered climaxes, creating a sense of vast, immersive space.[21] Jangly guitar riffs and reverb-drenched tones dominate, evoking a rootsy authenticity that harks back to classic rock traditions while incorporating subtle jam-band expansiveness.[22][7] Harmonious vocals, often delivered in Jim James's signature falsetto and layered harmonies, add a melodic heft and emotional depth, contrasting the band's prior forays into more experimental territory.[6] This work marks a deliberate departure from the electronic and funk-infused elements of Evil Urges (2008), returning instead to a guitar-driven sound rooted in the organic rock of earlier albums like Z (2005) and It Still Moves (2003).[21][20] The result is a polished yet unpolished aesthetic, emphasizing live-band energy and textural warmth over polished studio artifice.[6] Critics have drawn parallels to influential acts such as Neil Young and Crazy Horse for the album's raw, exploratory guitar work and Neil Young's melodic introspection, as well as The Rolling Stones' mid-1970s country phase for its twangy, Americana-inflected swagger.[20][7] These elements underscore Circuital's position as a bridge between My Morning Jacket's indie rock origins and a more mature, heritage-conscious rock sensibility.[22]Song structures and themes
The title track "Circuital" opens with a gong and layered vocals evoking a tribal ritual, building over seven minutes through warm guitar tones and a scribbly solo into a heraldic acoustic riff that circles back on itself, mirroring the song's cyclical progression.[23][24] Lyrically, frontman Jim James explores themes of life's repetitive loops and a spiritual homecoming to an inexplicable void, as he described it as reflecting "life's circular nature" where individuals emerge from nothingness, navigate existence, and return to it.[25] This structure symbolizes personal renewal through revisiting origins, with James questioning actions like crying or prophesying amid the journey.[23] "Holdin On to Black Metal" adopts an upbeat, brassy rock structure with horn sections that drive a singalong chorus, peaking in the second half with bold distortion and a commanding groove that contrasts its titular genre's darkness.[23][24] The lyrics employ irony to address perseverance amid maturity, critiquing the hold on bleak, youthful obsessions like black metal's Satanic imagery, suggesting such intensity does not suit a "grown-up mind" while nodding to its allure in younger eyes.[26][23] "First Light" features an uptempo rock build with strident power chords, prickly synths, and a horn twist at the end, escalating to an ecstatic climax that conveys urgency and release.[23][24] James' lyrics center on renewal and spiritual transcendence, tracing life stages from ancient roots to infancy and vitality, as in lines evoking a quest for inner light amid existential awakening.[23] Across the album, James' lyrics weave common threads of nostalgia for youth, spirituality through nature and the unknown, and personal growth via reflection and return, as seen in motifs of circling back to roots despite aging.[27][28] The track sequencing fosters a flow from introspective, high-energy openers like "Victory Dance" and "Circuital" to anthemic peaks and closing reflective ballads, creating a natural circular progression that echoes the title's themes.[22][23]Release and artwork
Marketing and promotion
My Morning Jacket announced their sixth studio album, Circuital, on March 3, 2011, through a feature in Rolling Stone, revealing the title, a spring release window, and details on the recording process in their native Kentucky; the announcement included a promotional trailer with live footage to generate early excitement.[13] To further engage fans, the band launched a series of teaser audio clips by offering six free weekly downloads of live versions of songs from their existing catalog, beginning immediately after the announcement and running through early May.[14] The album's official release date of May 31, 2011, was confirmed on March 28 via the band's website and media outlets, allowing for pre-order campaigns that included standard digital and physical formats, with vinyl editions highlighted for collectors.[29] Promotional tactics emphasized direct fan access, such as digital bundles tied to pre-orders that provided immediate downloads of select tracks alongside exclusive artwork previews, fostering anticipation ahead of the full rollout.[13] Media rollout intensified in April with the premiere of the title track "Circuital" on Pitchfork on April 12, where the seven-minute song was made available for streaming, described as a sprawling opener blending psychedelic rock elements to encapsulate the album's themes.[30] Building on this, NPR's First Listen series hosted a complete album stream on May 22, just over a week before release, enabling listeners to experience the full record and amplifying hype through public radio's broad reach.[31] These strategies, coordinated under ATO Records, focused on organic buzz via streaming and free content rather than heavy advertising.[32]Album packaging
The album Circuital was released in several physical and digital formats, including standard CD in digisleeve packaging, double LP vinyl on 180-gram green-colored pressing in a gatefold sleeve with printed lyrics, and digital download.[33] A limited deluxe box set edition was also available, featuring a custom box with lenticular cover art, the gatefold double LP, a 24-page 12" x 12" art book with lyrics and session photos from Louisville, an exclusive 30-minute documentary DVD on the recording process, a lithograph portrait by photographer Danny Clinch, a 20-panel foldout poster, and a plantable seed-infused bookmark tied to the album's organic themes.[34] In 2022, a deluxe reissue expanded on these elements with triple gatefold jackets (glow-in-the-dark for vinyl variants), zoetrope labels, additional unreleased photos in a 20-page booklet for the 2CD digipack, and fold-out posters across three color-themed editions: "Setting Sun" (orange and transparent yellow vinyl), "Lucifer's Beach" (blue and clear marble vinyl), and "Inner Light" (magenta and clear swirl vinyl).[1] The cover art features a close-up shot of a magic eye tuning dial from a vintage radio, evoking a sense of vintage electronics that ties into the album's title and themes. The inner sleeves and accompanying booklets feature handwritten liner notes penned by frontman Jim James, alongside candid photographs from the Louisville studio sessions that highlight the album's intimate, homegrown production vibe. Special editions often included posters reproducing elements of this artwork, reinforcing its thematic resonance with the music's blend of Americana and psychedelia.Singles and touring
Released singles
The lead single from Circuital was "Holdin On to Black Metal", released on April 26, 2011, with the B-side "Butch Cassidy (Live at T5)".[35] It was issued in digital download and 7-inch vinyl formats.[36] "Outta My System" served as the second single, released in September 2011 and similarly available as a digital download and 7-inch vinyl.[37] A promotional video for the track was directed by James Frost.[38] Both singles saw limited exposure, including airplay on Triple A radio stations, but My Morning Jacket did not aggressively promote major commercial singles from the album, prioritizing overall album sales instead.Live performances
The Circuital Tour, spanning 2011 and 2012, marked My Morning Jacket's extensive promotion of the album through a series of arena, amphitheater, and festival appearances across North America and Europe. The tour commenced in April 2011 with preview performances of select tracks prior to the album's May release, evolving into full integrations of Circuital material by summer. A pivotal early showcase occurred at the Bonnaroo Music Festival on June 10, 2011, where the band delivered a two-hour set featuring multiple album debuts, including "Victory Dance," "Circuital," "Holdin' On to Black Metal," "Lay Low," "It Beats for You," and "Phone Went West," blending them with older hits amid a sold-out festival of about 85,000 attendees.[39][40] This performance highlighted the band's ability to expand the album's songs live, with horn sections from the Preservation Hall Jazz Band enhancing tracks like "The Day Is Past and Gone." Fans praised the set's energetic fusion of new psychedelic rock elements and established jams, noting the humid Tennessee night amplified the immersive atmosphere.[41] Setlists during the tour frequently positioned "Circuital" as an early highlight or opener in later dates, serving as a thematic anchor with its swirling guitars and expansive build, often stretching beyond seven minutes to incorporate improvisational solos. "Holdin' On to Black Metal" emerged as a staple for extended jams, routinely exceeding ten minutes with layered psychedelia, dual guitar leads from Jim James and Carl Broemel, and crowd-chanting choruses that encouraged audience participation. These evolutions reflected the band's jam-band ethos, adapting studio arrangements for venue-specific dynamics while maintaining Circuital's raw, circuit-like energy. Tour statistics show these tracks appeared in over 45 of the 73 2011 shows, underscoring their centrality to the live repertoire.[42][43] Headlining slots at iconic venues like Red Rocks Amphitheatre on August 4, 2011, exemplified the tour's production scale, drawing 9,500 attendees for a nearly three-hour performance heavy on Circuital cuts such as "Victory Dance," "Circuital," "Lay Low," and "Outta My System." The natural acoustics of the Colorado site amplified the band's reverb-drenched sound, with lighting and projections creating a cosmic backdrop that echoed the album's abstract, circuit-inspired artwork through swirling patterns and color shifts. Reviewers and fans lauded the show's groove-oriented anthems and seamless transitions, describing it as a transcendent rock experience that solidified My Morning Jacket's reputation for stadium-filling spectacle.[44] The band also appeared at Lollapalooza in Chicago on August 6, 2011, incorporating album staples like "Outta My System" and "Wonderful (The Way I Feel)" into sets that balanced new material with fan favorites, receiving acclaim for their enduring vitality and improvisational flair. Into 2012, Circuital tracks remained integral to setlists amid further tour extensions. Overall fan reception emphasized the tour's communal joy, with attendees highlighting the band's generosity in elongating songs and fostering sing-alongs, contributing to sold-out runs and repeat festival bookings.[45][46]Critical reception
Contemporary reviews
Upon its release in May 2011, Circuital received generally favorable reviews, earning an aggregate score of 76 out of 100 on Metacritic based on 36 reviews, which highlighted the album as a welcome return to the band's roots after the more experimental Evil Urges.[8] Pitchfork awarded the album 7.2 out of 10, praising its organic energy and toned-down experimentation that evoked highlights from earlier works like Z, particularly in tracks such as "Wonderful (The Way I Feel)" where Jim James' vocals shine in "intoxicating splendor."[6] Rolling Stone gave it 4 out of 5 stars, lauding the record as a rock revival that culminates the band's sonic adventures with trippy keyboards, twisted pop hooks, and fuzzed-out guitars, especially in the title track's "trippy vision of heaven."[20] Critics commonly praised the album's songwriting depth and warm production, captured through live recordings in a Louisville gym that infused tracks with raw power and rousing energy, blending Southern rock with graceful melodies and purposeful builds.[47] NPR's Tom Moon described it as the band arriving at a "streamlined and totally thrilling sound," evoking timeless Americana rock through disarmingly graceful melodies framed by thundering chords.[47] Some reviewers noted minor criticisms regarding the length of certain tracks.Retrospective assessments
In the years following its 2011 release, Circuital earned significant accolades, including a nomination for Best Alternative Music Album at the 54th Annual Grammy Awards in 2012.[1] The album's lasting appeal was underscored by a 2022 deluxe edition release, which appended ten unreleased demos to the original tracklist and was issued on multiple formats including triple LP and double CD, reflecting renewed interest in the band's raw, analog-recorded sound.[1] Later assessments have highlighted Circuital's blend of psychedelic rock, Southern influences, and introspective themes. A 2023 review in The Absolute Sound lauded it as a "stylistic potpourri peppered with Christian references," noting its range from the epic rock of "Victory Dance" to the spiritual introspection of the title track.[48] Circuital contributed to the broader indie rock folk revival of the 2010s, with My Morning Jacket headlining the 2012 Newport Folk Festival alongside acts like Jackson Browne, merging their rock expansiveness with folk traditions rooted in the 1960s revival.[49] Frontman Jim James' solo debut, Regions of Light and Sound of God (2013), drew on similar motifs of personal reckoning and homecoming explored in Circuital, as James reflected in interviews on the album's role in grounding his evolving artistry amid the band's collaborative energy.[50] As of 2025, Circuital maintained relevance through live revivals, with the band performing the title track during their "is" Tour stops in Philadelphia and Boston in October, integrating it alongside rare deep cuts to affirm its enduring place in their catalog.[51][52]Commercial performance
Chart positions
Circuital debuted at number 5 on the US Billboard 200 chart dated June 18, 2011, marking the band's highest-charting album to date.[53] The record also performed strongly in genre-specific US charts, reaching number 1 on the Independent Albums chart, number 3 on the Top Rock Albums chart, and number 3 on the Alternative Albums chart. In the UK, it peaked at number 60 on the Albums Chart.[54] The album entered several international weekly charts upon release, reflecting its global appeal.| Chart (2011) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Australian Albums (ARIA) | 47 |
| Canadian Albums (Billboard) | 9 |
| Irish Albums (IRMA) | 32 |
| Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders) | 75 |
| Dutch Albums (Album Top 100) | 72 |
| Swedish Albums (Sverigetopplistan) | 58 |
| Norwegian Albums (VG-lista) | 39 |
| Spanish Albums (PROMUSICAE) | 80 |
Sales and certifications
Circuital sold 55,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release, marking the band's highest chart debut to date.[55][56] By 2013, the album had sold 208,000 copies in the US. The album performed strongly within the US indie rock scene but achieved only modest sales internationally. As of November 2025, Circuital has not received any certifications from the RIAA.[57]Track listing and personnel
Track listing
The standard edition of Circuital consists of 10 tracks.[58] All songs were written by Jim James.[18]| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Victory Dance" | 5:40 |
| 2. | "Circuital" | 7:19 |
| 3. | "The Day Is Coming" | 3:17 |
| 4. | "Wonderful (The Way I Feel)" | 4:17 |
| 5. | "Outta My System" | 3:22 |
| 6. | "Holdin On to Black Metal" | 4:18 |
| 7. | "First Light" | 3:34 |
| 8. | "You Wanna Freak Out" | 3:23 |
| 9. | "Devil's in the Jukebox" | 4:28 |
| 10. | "Slow Slow Tune" | 4:34 |
Recording personnel
My Morning Jacket- Jim James – vocals, guitar, mandolin, production, mixing
- Carl Broemel – guitar, vocals, pedal steel, saxophone, horn arrangements
- Patrick Hallahan – drums, percussion
- Tom Blankenship – bass
- Bo Koster – keyboards, piano, organ, synthesizer
- Joe Johnson – pedal steel
- Kevin Ratterman – engineering, mixing, assistant engineering
- Lowell Reynolds – assistant engineering
- Tucker Martine – production, engineering, mixing
- Jeremy Kittel, Alex Smith, Jason Seber – string and horn arrangements
- Bob Ludwig – mastering (Gateway Mastering Studios, Portland, Maine)