regions of light and sound of god

[Fully]

I played Regions of Jim in class last week. Today one of my students told me she looked for the vowel song over the weekend but couldn't find it. I sent her in the right direction. I love it when my students get turned on to music!

[LeanneP]

My 5 year old was singing along to A New Life in the kitchen yesterday. I was a pretty proud mama. 

I'm really loving the record and loving dancing around the house while I listen along. 

[johnnYYac]

I'm pretty sure johnnYYac will be posting the whole Q & A article with Jim James that is in the newest issue of Rolling Stone...

Yup.  Last week.

http://forum.mymorningjacket.com/index.php/topic,14944.msg325485.html#new

And, now, here...

_{clicking the article will make it bigger}

[SaraBananaBear]

I played Regions of Jim in class last week. Today one of my students told me she looked for the vowel song over the weekend but couldn't find it. I sent her in the right direction. I love it when my students get turned on to music!

Excellent!

[Fully]

I always liked it, but seeing it live was a game changer. Now I think its comparable to some of his best work with the jacket. I find it amazing. I've been listening to that and little else since we saw it live in nashville.

. This morning after seeing all of last night's footage, it has really struck me how we were blown away at the first public performance. It was still coming together then. Last night looked to be much looser, and it's only the fourth show of this band!!! Plus it's new material for Jim to tour as well. I can't wait to see it again in Louisville, Nashville, Atlanta, and on the farm! I can envision this becoming so much better than it was on Feb. 1. And I was fully satisfied that night!

[Penny Lane]

I always liked it, but seeing it live was a game changer. Now I think its comparable to some of his best work with the jacket. I find it amazing. I've been listening to that and little else since we saw it live in nashville.

. This morning after seeing all of last night's footage, it has really struck me how we were blown away at the first public performance. It was still coming together then. Last night looked to be much looser, and it's only the fourth show of this band!!! Plus it's new material for Jim to tour as well. I can't wait to see it again in Louisville, Nashville, Atlanta, and on the farm! I can envision this becoming so much better than it was on Feb. 1. And I was fully satisfied that night!

Jim mentioned that it was only their 4th performance and things were still coming together...

[Fully]

I always liked it, but seeing it live was a game changer. Now I think its comparable to some of his best work with the jacket. I find it amazing. I've been listening to that and little else since we saw it live in nashville.

. This morning after seeing all of last night's footage, it has really struck me how we were blown away at the first public performance. It was still coming together then. Last night looked to be much looser, and it's only the fourth show of this band!!! Plus it's new material for Jim to tour as well. I can't wait to see it again in Louisville, Nashville, Atlanta, and on the farm! I can envision this becoming so much better than it was on Feb. 1. And I was fully satisfied that night!

Jim mentioned that it was only their 4th performance and things were still coming together...

I think I just exploded thinking how much better it may get.

[Fully]

But I probably just farted.

[pawpaw]

I'm not into Jim's new album. I'm a big fan of many of the types of music he seems to have been influenced by in making it, but the word "clumsy" keeps popping up in my head when I listen to RoLaSoG. Especially the lyrics...some of the writing is just not good, imo.

He's made plenty of other great music, so I'll listen to that instead.

I thought some of the things you are saying at first listen, particularly about the lyrics, but then the album just clicked for me. I'm not saying you'll changed your mind-just that I did.

I agree. The first word that came to mind for me was "simple". After it clicked, I thought "simply genius".

My suggestion would be: Build it up strong. Fill it up with love. And see it live. 

Some of it is simple too, but I don't feel that it's clumsy because it's simple. I've listened to it a few more times since I wrote my expansive review last week  , and still feel the same.

There are things I do like about the album, some of it sounds good, damn smooth. Jim's strong suit, imo, is writing music, and he's done a fine job on several of the songs on this new album. But RoLaSoG sounds like it's trying to be this personal, precious album, one on which the lyrics are intended to be central and purposeful, and, well, you already know how I feel about the lyrics as a whole. Maybe I just don't "get it" though.

[Tracy 2112]

I'm not into Jim's new album. I'm a big fan of many of the types of music he seems to have been influenced by in making it, but the word "clumsy" keeps popping up in my head when I listen to RoLaSoG. Especially the lyrics...some of the writing is just not good, imo.

He's made plenty of other great music, so I'll listen to that instead.

I thought some of the things you are saying at first listen, particularly about the lyrics, but then the album just clicked for me. I'm not saying you'll changed your mind-just that I did.

I agree. The first word that came to mind for me was "simple". After it clicked, I thought "simply genius".

My suggestion would be: Build it up strong. Fill it up with love. And see it live. 

Some of it is simple too, but I don't feel that it's clumsy because it's simple. I've listened to it a few more times since I wrote my expansive review last week  , and still feel the same.

There are things I do like about the album, some of it sounds good, damn smooth. Jim's strong suit, imo, is writing music, and he's done a fine job on several of the songs on this new album. But RoLaSoG sounds like it's trying to be this personal, precious album, one on which the lyrics are intended to be central and purposeful, and, well, you already know how I feel about the lyrics as a whole. Maybe I just don't "get it" though.

I don't get it either bbill; and I am old and I don't want to work for it either. The last 3 efforts just seem "forced", so much so that I like Evil Urges of all of them 

[lil sis]

I wasn't sure how I felt about it and didn't really give it a good listen all the way through (i know, shame on me) but I must say after seeing Jim last night in Williamsburg all is certainly forgiven.  I've been humming these songs in my head all day.

[pawpaw]

I'm not into Jim's new album. I'm a big fan of many of the types of music he seems to have been influenced by in making it, but the word "clumsy" keeps popping up in my head when I listen to RoLaSoG. Especially the lyrics...some of the writing is just not good, imo.

He's made plenty of other great music, so I'll listen to that instead.

I thought some of the things you are saying at first listen, particularly about the lyrics, but then the album just clicked for me. I'm not saying you'll changed your mind-just that I did.

I agree. The first word that came to mind for me was "simple". After it clicked, I thought "simply genius".

My suggestion would be: Build it up strong. Fill it up with love. And see it live. 

Some of it is simple too, but I don't feel that it's clumsy because it's simple. I've listened to it a few more times since I wrote my expansive review last week  , and still feel the same.

There are things I do like about the album, some of it sounds good, damn smooth. Jim's strong suit, imo, is writing music, and he's done a fine job on several of the songs on this new album. But RoLaSoG sounds like it's trying to be this personal, precious album, one on which the lyrics are intended to be central and purposeful, and, well, you already know how I feel about the lyrics as a whole. Maybe I just don't "get it" though.

I don't get it either bbill; and I am old and I don't want to work for it either. The last 3 efforts just seem "forced", so much so that I like Evil Urges of all of them 

I agree that RoLaSoG does sound forced, though I don't feel like the last two full band albums sound that way, and I'm actually a pretty big fan of Circuital. I don't mean to say that the lyrics are universally bad either, there is some good stuff on the new album, more good than bad probably, but there are some real clunkers in there too, enough to turn me off.

[BH]

I'm not into Jim's new album. I'm a big fan of many of the types of music he seems to have been influenced by in making it, but the word "clumsy" keeps popping up in my head when I listen to RoLaSoG. Especially the lyrics...some of the writing is just not good, imo.

He's made plenty of other great music, so I'll listen to that instead.

I thought some of the things you are saying at first listen, particularly about the lyrics, but then the album just clicked for me. I'm not saying you'll changed your mind-just that I did.

I agree. The first word that came to mind for me was "simple". After it clicked, I thought "simply genius".

My suggestion would be: Build it up strong. Fill it up with love. And see it live. 

Some of it is simple too, but I don't feel that it's clumsy because it's simple. I've listened to it a few more times since I wrote my expansive review last week  , and still feel the same.

There are things I do like about the album, some of it sounds good, damn smooth. Jim's strong suit, imo, is writing music, and he's done a fine job on several of the songs on this new album. But RoLaSoG sounds like it's trying to be this personal, precious album, one on which the lyrics are intended to be central and purposeful, and, well, you already know how I feel about the lyrics as a whole. Maybe I just don't "get it" though.

I don't get it either bbill; and I am old and I don't want to work for it either. The last 3 efforts just seem "forced", so much so that I like Evil Urges of all of them 

I agree that RoLaSoG does sound forced, though I don't feel like the last two full band albums sound that way, and I'm actually a pretty big fan of Circuital. I don't mean to say that the lyrics are universally bad either, there is some good stuff on the new album, more good than bad probably, but there are some real clunkers in there too, enough to turn me off.

It's not the words that he says b!    It's the way that he sings.   

[pawpaw]

I'm not into Jim's new album. I'm a big fan of many of the types of music he seems to have been influenced by in making it, but the word "clumsy" keeps popping up in my head when I listen to RoLaSoG. Especially the lyrics...some of the writing is just not good, imo.

He's made plenty of other great music, so I'll listen to that instead.

I thought some of the things you are saying at first listen, particularly about the lyrics, but then the album just clicked for me. I'm not saying you'll changed your mind-just that I did.

I agree. The first word that came to mind for me was "simple". After it clicked, I thought "simply genius".

My suggestion would be: Build it up strong. Fill it up with love. And see it live. 

Some of it is simple too, but I don't feel that it's clumsy because it's simple. I've listened to it a few more times since I wrote my expansive review last week  , and still feel the same.

There are things I do like about the album, some of it sounds good, damn smooth. Jim's strong suit, imo, is writing music, and he's done a fine job on several of the songs on this new album. But RoLaSoG sounds like it's trying to be this personal, precious album, one on which the lyrics are intended to be central and purposeful, and, well, you already know how I feel about the lyrics as a whole. Maybe I just don't "get it" though.

I don't get it either bbill; and I am old and I don't want to work for it either. The last 3 efforts just seem "forced", so much so that I like Evil Urges of all of them 

I agree that RoLaSoG does sound forced, though I don't feel like the last two full band albums sound that way, and I'm actually a pretty big fan of Circuital. I don't mean to say that the lyrics are universally bad either, there is some good stuff on the new album, more good than bad probably, but there are some real clunkers in there too, enough to turn me off.

It's not the words that he says b!    It's the way that he sings.   

Great song, but I've never bought into that as a rule. Plus, he wants us to hear his words now, the album's produced for it. Eh, whatever. I'm done complaining.

Dude, BH, I thought about you when I heard that Makers was going to start watering down their bourbon. I pictured you tearing off to the liquor store to buy every 90-proof bottle you could find.

[Ruckus]

I'm not into Jim's new album. I'm a big fan of many of the types of music he seems to have been influenced by in making it, but the word "clumsy" keeps popping up in my head when I listen to RoLaSoG. Especially the lyrics...some of the writing is just not good, imo.

He's made plenty of other great music, so I'll listen to that instead.

I thought some of the things you are saying at first listen, particularly about the lyrics, but then the album just clicked for me. I'm not saying you'll changed your mind-just that I did.

I agree. The first word that came to mind for me was "simple". After it clicked, I thought "simply genius".

My suggestion would be: Build it up strong. Fill it up with love. And see it live. 

Some of it is simple too, but I don't feel that it's clumsy because it's simple. I've listened to it a few more times since I wrote my expansive review last week  , and still feel the same.

There are things I do like about the album, some of it sounds good, damn smooth. Jim's strong suit, imo, is writing music, and he's done a fine job on several of the songs on this new album. But RoLaSoG sounds like it's trying to be this personal, precious album, one on which the lyrics are intended to be central and purposeful, and, well, you already know how I feel about the lyrics as a whole. Maybe I just don't "get it" though.

I don't get it either bbill; and I am old and I don't want to work for it either. The last 3 efforts just seem "forced", so much so that I like Evil Urges of all of them 

I agree that RoLaSoG does sound forced, though I don't feel like the last two full band albums sound that way, and I'm actually a pretty big fan of Circuital. I don't mean to say that the lyrics are universally bad either, there is some good stuff on the new album, more good than bad probably, but there are some real clunkers in there too, enough to turn me off.

I agree with you guys bb's and Trace.  I respect JJ's creativity and I know bbill digs the influences behind this album.  A lot of the production and beats are fantastic!  Unfortunately the lyrical content just doesn't work for me and I'll always be in love with JJ's soaring reverb laden vocals, the sound that drew me into them in the first place.

Oddly enough I've come around to Circuital for all its faults for I feel VD, Circuital and SST are exceptional tracks.

[lpkell2145]

Okay - so I definitely like the new album I think (I know. Total doublespeak). I've been listening to it while I'm at work and I really like the grooves and beats he uses. But then the other night I tried listening to it while going to sleep (with headphones) and I gotta be honest...it creeped me out a little bit. Something about Jim's voice and the effects he uses is very unnerving to me. There is so much going on in the background too - I don't know why I got such an oh-oh feeling, but I did. All that being said, I will continue to listen to it because I love me some JJ, but maybe as a daytime record.

[pawpaw]

Alright, I wanted to say one more thing on this.  All these vague comments I'm making about not liking some of the lyrics are not directed at the God lyrics because they're God lyrics. I have a problem with (what in my opinion is) poor writing, not any of the subject matter Jim's chosen.

But, I ask you all...what do you think of Jim devoting a good chunk of his first solo album to God, some of it the Christian view of God and Jesus? Do you like the songs more or less because of the subject matter? Does it turn you off on the album at all?

Sorry if this has already been asked and discussed on here. I'm not as thorough with my forum-ing as I used to be.

[Penny Lane]

Alright, I wanted to say one more thing on this.  All these vague comments I'm making about not liking some of the lyrics are not directed at the God lyrics because they're God lyrics. I have a problem with (what in my opinion is) poor writing, not any of the subject matter Jim's chosen.

But, I ask you all...what do you think of Jim devoting a good chunk of his first solo album to God, some of it the Christian view of God and Jesus? Do you like the songs more or less because of the subject matter? Does it turn you off on the album at all?

Sorry if this has already been asked and discussed on here. I'm not as thorough with my forum-ing as I used to be.

I agree with you. I don't mind subject matter at all, really loved Dear God (off MOF) and love spiritual songs in general. But most of these songs just didn't resonate with me --- some of them came alive seeing the show last week (no doubt because of all the dirty dancing going on up on stage) but overall, the repetitive lyrics are a huge turn off.

Perhaps I need to read the novel and delve deeper in order to get it, but I gave up being deep in my 20s. 

[Shug]

Interesting question, bbill, at least to me.  I have a MAJOR chip on my shoulder against most organized religions and a deep interest in spirituality.  Jim apparently grew up Catholic and made some pretty spot on comments about it in a recent interview (things along the lines of the Catholic church is just a bunch of greedy old white men trying to keep their power and that any religion that does not hold women to be equal to men is fundamentally flawed), so I know he thinks kinda like I do.   

http://consequenceofsound.net/2013/02/cover-story-jim-james/

"I joke and call myself a recovering Catholic," he says with a grin.

Years in Catholic school didn't stick with James the way those nuns had probably hoped. He doesn't "bash" the religion, acknowledging, as is the wont of many "recovering Catholics", that there are plenty of sound teachings in the good book. Still, around the time he was with classmates like Givan, Quaid, and the others, he came to a realization.

"Ya know, when you're still in grade school, but you're kinda starting to wake up and become conscious and you're discovering music and you're discovering friends. And you're discovering, just, 'God, so much of this is so boring or just so stupid. Like, why can't a woman be a priest?' Like there're all these flaws like, 'Why do you hate gay people?'"

His eyes are narrowed, as if still examining Catholicism's flaws. Besides these exclusions, James also finds issue in the general political background of religion.

"And you kinda start tracing the history and realizing that a lot of this is just bullshit that old, scared white dues cooked up to keep their power and their fucking money. You realize it's 'big business'. So many generations of people have been duped by this big business because they've got fear beaten into their heads, and they've got guilt beaten into their heads.

All this shit is just so sad, because religion is supposed to be the most uplifting thing in your life. I think about just how often religion has been bastardized, so that's why for me, religion is more of a deeply personal thing that just involves searching and questioning and taking little bitty pieces from any other religion I read and try to make it my own."

But I think that when I hear spiritually sincere and authentic music, I can recognize it.  So if Dylan or Van Morrison or even Jim sing about spiritual themes using words that sound a lot like what conservative fundamentalist Christians use, it still doesn't bother me, because I can sense that Dylan, Van and Jim are coming from an entirely different perspective on Jesus and God.  Its the difference between mysticism and fundamentalism, like the Sufis in Islam, Kabbalah in Judaism, the ancient Christian mystic sects, etc.

I'm not that enamoured of Jim's solo album yet, but its not because of the spiritual theme.  But I am extremely impressed with the artistic intentions behind this record that Jim has talked about alot in recent interviews.  Dude is spot on in my book.

[pawpaw]

I'm not that enamoured of Jim's solo album yet, but its not because of the spiritual theme.  But I am extremely impressed with the artistic intentions behind this record that Jim has talked about alot in recent interviews.  Dude is spot on in my book.

I agree, and I want to like the album more than I do because of this.