In 2004, a dreamy cover of "Rocket Man" concluded My Morning Jacket's first volume of rarities. Which was prescient, because it's Elton John that Jim James' songs for 2005's Z first bring to mind. From the wistful recollection of "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road" to Honky Chateau's melodic and genre explorations, John's ability to mesh styles and take detours within his sturdy pop songwriting applies to James here, particularly in the expansive opener, "Wordless Chorus," or the initial happy-go-lucky lilt of "Off the Record." Z is My Morning Jacket's fourth full-length (and second for ATO), and it's the one that might finally jump-start the reaction that James' music has always deserved. It Still Moves from 2003 rightly enjoyed its accolades, but it meandered a little structurally, too, and sometimes got a little lost in its own reverb. On Z, MMJ's traditional influences are present -- the folk, lues, and country tones of John, Neil Young, and the Band shaded by contemporaries like Mercury Rev and Mark Kozelek. But songs like "Lay Low" and "It Beats for You" are crafted tighter, their sound-drenched keyboard lines meeting the percussion head on and riding meaningful flourishes of electric guitar. "Gideon" climaxes in James calling out throatily over twinkling piano and big chords borrowed from the Who, and "What a Wonderful Man" is a raucous, crashing tumble of unhinged crash cymbals, barroom piano, and mirthful yelping. Z is intuitive, intensely creative, classicist-minded, nearly flawless. It's music that's extruded from Jim James' id, and that's bearded, too.
For those of you who could not make it to My Morning Jacket's show in Bonnaroo (aka Amsterdam), i'm sorry to say that you missed out. It was the most surprising and incredible night of my life. First off i want to say that during the entire show i was trying to guess what song would come on next and everytime i was wrong! Usually i get a couple right. But damn they got me good. They defini...
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I have recently had some good fortune in my local library trolling for music. Here are some of the albums I've picked up at my local library, many of them I have never heard, but have read about them in Mog posts by you people:Bruce Springsteen - Darkness on The Edge of TownHarry Nilsson - Nilsson Schmilsson (remaster)Moby Grape - Moby GrapeMy Morning Jacket - ZSifgur Ros - Takk...The Mountain...
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goddamnit. everytime i try to buy tickets for shows in atlanta, or anywhere for that matter, i fail...miserably. first, i tried to buy tickets for the explosions in the sky show...failed. now i try to buy tickets for my morning jacket's prom/concert and they are all sold out. i really wish i had the time to sit around all day and buy tickets right when they release them, but i dont. this is re...
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My Morning Jacket at the Fillmore=sex under the bleachers (as a NYC kid, the closest i got was hooking up on the bathroom floor of the Plaza, but after mmj, i have a feeling i know now what i was missing). My Morning Jacket at the Fillmore=driving down Old Montauk Highway with the top down on the Jeep (been there, done that, and was happy to go there again after a 15 year hiatus). My Morning Ja...
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After the bar one night, I came home and munched out in front the tube. Austin City Limits came on OPB and they played My Morning Jacket. Their melodic tunes totally captured me, and I picked up the cd I think the next day, or day after. Definitely in my heavy rotation at home.
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ok so this riddle in the lyrics of "into the woods" by My Morning Jacket has been finding its way into my conscience for the past several weeks, seeing that it is never going to leave me alone whats your take on it? (and maybe bother the hell out of you)here are the lyrics straight from the MMJ official site"A KITTEN ON FIRE. A BABY IN A BLENDER. BOTH SOUND AS SWEET AS A NIGHT OF SURRENDER.I KN...
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Looks like that Jim James benefit for Obama scheduled for tonight in Chicago won't be happening. The My Morning Jacket frontman slipped, fell and hit his head at last night's show in Iowa City. Injuries have forced James to not only cancel the Schubas gig tonight benefiting Democratic Presidential Candidate Barack Obama, but also to postpone the MMJ shows in Chicago later this week.A message f...
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...sometimes I wonder why it takes me so damn long to get into a band. I'm kickin myself over this one.
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Get Yer Rock on!MMJ Tour Dates:04/27/08 Sun Coachella Music Festival (Empire Polo Field) Indio, CA06/13/08 Fri Bonnaroo Music Festival Manchester, TN06/16/08 Mon Kool Haus Toronto, ON06/17/08 Tue Le National Montreal, QC06/20/08 Fri Radio City Music Hall New York, NY06/25/08 Wed Leadmill Sheffield, UK06/26/08 Thu Bristol Academy Bristol, UK06/27/08 Fri Manchester Academy Manchester, UK06/29/08 ...
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There are certain songs that just get to me. Physically. "Gideon" by My Morning Jacket is one of them. I don't know the meaning behind it, but some folks have discussed it here. It's just a very emotional and lovely song, I think. I thought I loved the record version and then I heard it performed with the Boston Pops. Wow.
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Today is the prelude to summer. The last day of May, the day all the Berkeley students strap mattresses to minivans and motor away, leaving small piles of cast-off household goods on the curb. Bowed shelving units, cracked rice cookers, metal bedframes with "FREE TAKE ME" signs flapping a quiet goodbye - At 7:30 I awake and look outside: the gray-bearded man across the street is washing the sid...
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goddamnit. everytime i try to buy tickets for shows in atlanta, or anywhere for that matter, i fail...miserably. first, i tried to buy tickets for the explosions in the sky show...failed. now i try to buy tickets for my morning jacket's prom/concert and they are all sold out. i really wish i had the time to sit around all day and buy tickets right when they release them, but i dont. this is re...
More >
For those of you who could not make it to My Morning Jacket's show in Bonnaroo (aka Amsterdam), i'm sorry to say that you missed out. It was the most surprising and incredible night of my life. First off i want to say that during the entire show i was trying to guess what song would come on next and everytime i was wrong! Usually i get a couple right. But damn they got me good. They defini...
More >
My Morning Jacket at the Fillmore=sex under the bleachers (as a NYC kid, the closest i got was hooking up on the bathroom floor of the Plaza, but after mmj, i have a feeling i know now what i was missing). My Morning Jacket at the Fillmore=driving down Old Montauk Highway with the top down on the Jeep (been there, done that, and was happy to go there again after a 15 year hiatus). My Morning Ja...
More >
ok so this riddle in the lyrics of "into the woods" by My Morning Jacket has been finding its way into my conscience for the past several weeks, seeing that it is never going to leave me alone whats your take on it? (and maybe bother the hell out of you)here are the lyrics straight from the MMJ official site"A KITTEN ON FIRE. A BABY IN A BLENDER. BOTH SOUND AS SWEET AS A NIGHT OF SURRENDER.I KN...
More >
My Morning Jacket is the defining rock and roll band of this generation.At this point, I have seen MMJ six times in the past six weeks and I can't stop, so I will see them again this coming weekend. Even though 75% of the songs will likely be the same, these songs are anthems, the kind of songs that I can always sing along with, the kind of songs that will stand the test of time. MMJ is becomin...
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After the bar one night, I came home and munched out in front the tube. Austin City Limits came on OPB and they played My Morning Jacket. Their melodic tunes totally captured me, and I picked up the cd I think the next day, or day after. Definitely in my heavy rotation at home.
More >
We played a show last night with a band that you will undoubtedly be hearing alot about in the next year. They are from Kentucky and they are called Wax Fang. After playing with us here in Murfreesboro, they are taking off to go on tour with My Morning Jacket which will include a show at the Ryman. How cool is that?
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I have recently had some good fortune in my local library trolling for music. Here are some of the albums I've picked up at my local library, many of them I have never heard, but have read about them in Mog posts by you people:Bruce Springsteen - Darkness on The Edge of TownHarry Nilsson - Nilsson Schmilsson (remaster)Moby Grape - Moby GrapeMy Morning Jacket - ZSifgur Ros - Takk...The Mountain...
More >
See MMJ, an amazing band from my home state, play with members of the Boston Pops on Letterman.
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When I first heard that news that Jim James accidentally fell off the stage during "Off the Record" at their Iowa City concert on Tuesday night, for some reason I didn't think it was a really big deal. I thought this kinda thing happens to JJ quite a bit considering how crazy he is [...]
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| Title | Lyrics | Buy |
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| 1 Wordless Chorus |
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| 2 It Beats 4 U |
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| 3 Gideon |
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| 4 What a Wonderful Man |
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| 5 Off the Record |
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| 6 Into the Woods |
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| 7 Anytime |
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| 8 Lay Low |
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| 9 Knot Comes Loose |
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| 10 Dondante |
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Click to purchase…
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 "Z")
