Is The Waterfall a good place to start with My Morning Jacket?

Yes, The Waterfall is recommended as a starting point for new My Morning Jacket listeners. Ethereal melodies intertwine with reflective lyrics, creating a sonic landscape that feels both expansive and intimate. Released in 2015, The Waterfall was My Morning Jacket's first studio album in four years, following the more experimental Circuital. This period saw the band returning to their roots while also navigating personal challenges, including the loss of a close friend, which heavily influenced the songwriting.

Who is The Waterfall for?

The Waterfall works well if you're into steady flow with gradual peaks, introspective reflections on life and for contemplative afternoons.

How many songs are on The Waterfall?

The Waterfall has 10 tracks, running approximately 47 minutes.

The Waterfall

My Morning Jacket · 2015

47 min · 10 tracks · indie rock

Ethereal melodies intertwine with reflective lyrics, creating a sonic landscape that feels both expansive and intimate.

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Top tracks — play these first

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Believe (Nobody Knows) Start here — Opening with uplifting melodies, this track encapsulates the album's theme of hope amidst uncertainty, showcasing Jim James' emotive vocal delivery.
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Compound Fracture — With its driving rhythm and layered instrumentation, this song highlights the band's ability to merge rock dynamics with introspective lyrics about personal struggles.
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In Its Infancy (The Waterfall) — This track stands out for its atmospheric build and poignant exploration of growth and change, reflecting the overarching narrative of the album.
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Only Memories Remain — Closing the album on a somber yet hopeful note, this song captures a sense of longing and reflection, tying together the emotional threads woven throughout the record.

Elevation

Our rating, out of 100 — and why.

AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.

64 /100

Treeline

Higher than 79% of albums we've rated

The album blends reflective lyrics with layered instrumentation, creating an engaging listening experience.

What we noticed

The first half of the album features a consistent mid-tempo pace, while the second half introduces more varied tempos and dynamics.

Composition 25% of the score: 7/10
Craft 20% of the score: 8/10
Durability 25% of the score: 7/10
Distinctiveness 18% of the score: 6/10
Sequencing 12% of the score: 8/10

Influence 4/10

Known within its scene. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.

Is this for you?

Good fit if you like

steady flow with gradual peaks
introspective reflections on life
for contemplative afternoons
lush soundscapes for deep thought

Maybe skip if you

prefer fast-paced, energetic tracks
seek instant gratification in music

Where this album fits

In the catalog: Late Career Highlight — Shows continued vitality after a four-year hiatus, praised for sound and cohesion.
Themes: personal loss· introspective growth· hopeful uncertainty
Career context: Released in 2015, The Waterfall was My Morning Jacket's first studio album in four years, following the more experimental Circuital. This period saw the band returning to their roots while also navigating personal challenges, including the loss of a close friend, which heavily influenced the songwriting.
Stylistic neighbors: Band of Horses· Wilco· The War on Drugs