Description
Jim James – Eternally Even – Vinyl Record
Jim James – Eternally Even, released on November 4, 2016, is a brooding, psychedelic, and politically charged solo album from the frontman of My Morning Jacket. As his second solo studio album, Eternally Even takes a significant departure from both his earlier solo work and his band’s expansive Americana-rock aesthetic. Here, James dives into a more minimalist, groove-heavy world, blending neo-soul, synth-funk, ambient textures, and psychedelic rock into a deeply atmospheric meditation on personal anxiety, spiritual unrest, and socio-political turbulence in a post-2016 America.
Co-produced with Blake Mills, the album delivers a sound that feels at once vintage and eerily futuristic. Drawing inspiration from the soul and protest music of Gil Scott-Heron, Marvin Gaye’s What’s Going On, and Curtis Mayfield, James creates an environment where the message and the mood are inseparable. Each song unfolds with a slow, deliberate intensity—emphasizing vibe over volume, and message over hooks. It’s a record that asks for patience, rewarding listeners with layers of emotional and philosophical depth.
The album opens with “Hide in Plain Sight,” setting a haunting tone with slinky bass, ghostly falsetto, and lyrics about the dangers of complacency and illusion. “Same Old Lie,” one of the most overtly political tracks, takes aim at corruption and misinformation with a groove-driven protest energy. James sings, “It’s the same old lie you’ve been reading about / The same old lie you heard your father shout,” delivering lines that echo the post-truth era and media cynicism. It’s not angry—it’s disillusioned and weary, delivered with hypnotic restraint.
Another highlight, “Here in Spirit,” functions as a soul anthem for the modern resistance movement, with a pulsing rhythm and hopeful message about standing up for what’s right, even when you’re not physically present. Tracks like “The World’s Smiling Now” and “We Ain’t Getting Any Younger (Pt. 1 & 2)” delve into personal introspection, aging, and the tension between inner peace and external chaos.
Musically, the album leans into slow-burning arrangements and lo-fi analog synths, with occasional bursts of reverb-heavy guitar and ambient textures. There’s a dusky, late-night quality to the entire record—it feels like something conjured in a small, dimly lit room during the quiet hours, reflecting the weight of the world. Vocally, James floats in and out of falsetto, his signature reverb-drenched voice acting like an additional instrument, often blending into the mix rather than dominating it.
Critically, Eternally Even was met with generally positive reviews. It was praised for its ambition, sonic cohesion, and the way it subtly fused personal emotion with political commentary. Some critics found its tempo too uniform or its message too vague, but many others viewed it as a mature, meditative response to a fractured cultural moment, drawing parallels to albums like David Bowie’s Blackstar or Kendrick Lamar’s To Pimp a Butterfly in terms of mood and moral inquiry—albeit on a smaller scale.
In the broader context of Jim James’ career, Eternally Even stands out as a deeply spiritual and socially conscious album, the sound of an artist trying to stay grounded in a world spinning out of control. It’s less about catharsis and more about reflection—a soundtrack for watching the world burn while trying to stay centered.
Brand new, never played and still in the factory plastic sealed
Track Listing
Hide In Plain Sight
Same Old Lie
Here In Spirit
The World’s Smiling Now
We Ain’t Getting Any Younger Pt 1
We Ain’t Getting Any Younger Pt 2
True Nature
In The Moment
Eternally Even
