It Still Moves

There’s a fine line between being gratingly retro and having a true appreciation for rock’s roots. Kentucky’s My Morning Jacket sound like they just popped in from 1975, clutching armloads of Neil Young, the Allmans, and Pink Floyd records. But instead of aping their idols, they inject these sources with fresh passion on their third album. Soaring licks and subdued acoustic refrains collide with grunting riffs in an orgy of guitars, while keyboards, strings, and the most badass horn line this side of Wilson Pickett help color in the background. “Dancefloors” is an unhinged rock boogie that shares a carefree vibe with the mellower “Golden.” On “Run Thru,” singer Jim James’ haunting, high-pitched voice twists around a wailing, bluesy guitar line as Patrick Hallahan beats the skins like a redheaded stepchild. The finished product’s damn near majestic, reaching back to rock’s past to point out what’s wrong with its present.