Spin Magazine

[LaurieBlue]

http://www.spin.com/reviews/magazine/2005/09/050929_mymorningjacket/

My Morning Jacket
Z
(ATO/RCA)
By: Andrew Beaujon

September 29, 2005

Beneath pedal-pushing weirdness, the sound of one voice breaking

 It's fun to imagine that My Morning Jacket's Jim James composes his songs by wailing into an abandoned railroad tunnel, his beard moist with sweat, his corduroy sport coat flapping rakishly in the updraft. Sadly, it's more likely that he and his band just sit around with a guitar and a tape recorder. But a group with such an epic sound begs for a myth of its own.

Perhaps too often on past releases, MMJ left their songs bobbing in a sea of reverb, and while the tunes on their second major-label record are still well lubricated, producer John Leckie has helped them towel off their oddball anthems so people who like to, you know, hear the snare drum can relate. Z imagines a dance floor covered in sawdust and a musty smell wafting from under the boards. Take "Wordless Chorus": From its opening deep bass burbles to its surf-music vocal harmonies on the refrain to James' gangsta-ish boast that "We are the innovators / They are the imitators," the song is a dizzying race through My Morning Jacket's quirky mixture of alt country, Southern-rock heroics, and '70s AM radio pop. They navigate a ska rhythm on "Off the Record," only to blow the tune to smithereens with an Air-style dubby devolution.

But in spite of all their stony sonic exploration, they never let Z turn into Zzzz; for every moment of ambient weirdness, there's a blast of rock guitar that reminds you that the listener isn't required to do all the work. Somewhere between their love of the blues and their affection for the dark disco of "Blue Monday," Jim James and friends manage to make ambitious music seem like fun. And if that's a scream into the void, then by gum, Jim, shout it out loud.

See also: Mazzy Star, So Tonight That I Might See (Capitol, 1993)

[dragonboy]

I don't care for this review much...

Slightly off topic: I bought a copy of Spin last time I was in Hawaii - it was unbelievably thin & full of ads!

The only US music mag I like is No Depression.

UK mags like Mojo, Uncut & Q are a far better read, no?
Nothing beats Mojo in my book. You can feel their passion for the music.

[LaurieBlue]

I don't care for this review much...

Slightly off topic: I bought a copy of Spin last time I was in Hawaii - it was unbelievably thin & full of ads!

The only US music mag I like is No Depression.

UK mags like Mojo, Uncut & Q are a far better read, no?
Nothing beats Mojo in my book. You can feel their passion for the music.

I don't particularly care for Spin, either.  And I love No Depression, and Paste Magazine is quickly becoming a favorite.  

Mojo has a great reputation worldwide, as well.  Wish I had time and $$ to get and read them all.  That's why I love the internet ;-).

Laurie

[dragonboy]

Paste? That was mentioned here a day or two ago, wasn't it?
I'll have to check it out - Cheers Laurie  :)

[lfish]

Nevetheless a positive review.  That's all we need to boost the sales  ;D

[sideroad32]

Hey dragonboy have you read Harp from the US?  Its the only Music mag i read anymore.

[ratsprayer]

i really dig the mag, magnet.  ive found out about a lot of cool bands from there.  the past few covers have had tom waits, sleater kinney, and carl newman from the new pornographers.  id recommend this one.

[dragonboy]

Harp & Magnet - I'll have to check them out.
Thanks guys  :)