Z's importance to music

[primushead]

I might be posting a little prematurely here, but I'll go with it.  Is it just me, or could this record be destined to be supremely important to rock music?  What I mean is, rather than being a fucking great record on the surface, will this go down as the album that revived creativity in the music world?  That brought back 'classic' rock?  That assassinated the stagnant world of pop music?  
   I think this definitely has the potential to do so...let's just see if some others realize its value [smiley=guitar.gif]

[aMillionDreams]

I felt the same way about It Still Moves.  It's hard to wait around expecting everyone else to get it.  I think that this album is going to be important to me, which is all I can worry about.  Does that make sense?

[fitzcarraldo]

You go Primushead!

[primushead]

I felt the same way about It Still Moves.  It's hard to wait around expecting everyone else to get it.  I think that this album is going to be important to me, which is all I can worry about.  Does that make sense?

Absolutely. Good commentary.

[Specialist]

i agree with aMD, in the end i only care about Z's importance to myself and how it affects my life.

but i really hope you're right Primushead, if Rock and Roll is going to be relevant in the coming years, the world has to hear My Morning Jacket, and with the coverage they've been getting, i think people will. a big thing stopping MMJ from getting big with the younger population is because most teens care more about image than music. This irritates me to no end. Most of them would rather hear some asshole in black eyeliner sing about cutting his wrists and moping about how the world hates him, because it's the "scene" thing to do.

in 20 years, i would be proud to tell my son or daughter "I remember the day Z came out and it changed my life forever."

[dragonboy]

That brought back 'classic' rock? That assassinated the stagnant world of pop music?

This is interesting. I played Z for a friend the other day & his first comment was "it's quite poppy, isn' it?"

Funny thing is I had been thinking the same thing myself. Parts of Z make me think it is a 'pop' record, or at least, their most 'popular' yet.
By this I don't mean to compare it to Britney or Ashlee etc.
By this I mean it's a  brilliant, artistic record that has the potential to appeal to the masses, like say the Beatles.

Look at how polished the CD is & how catchy the songs are (Wordless & Off the Record in particular).
It Beats for You is MMJ's most obvious love song yet.
Even the rock tracks have a 'poppy' upbeat feel to them (Wonderful Man, Anytime) & the slowest song is less melancholy than usual &, for me, almost has a 'ballad' feel to it (Knot Comes Loose)

(Of course, Dondate & Into the Woods are very different).

None of this is criticism, quite the opposite, MMj have made an amazing record that (from reading everyone's posts)
it would seem the die-hard fans love yet is clever & catchy enough to win them many new fans & bring them closer to the mainstream.

Stroke of genius!!!  :)

[tomEisenbraun]

Yeah, that's part of the cool thing about it, is that it's very different, but very easily accessible. And they have been getting insane coverage from all over the place. It's going to be hard to ignore this album if you like good music. I don't care if they never make it on MTV. They belong there. Just like Led Zeppelin would never have belonged on MTV. MTV is a fad, but art is totally different. These guys are pumpin a killin record, and the facts are this: it rocks. It's  undeniable. Listen to Gideon, Anytime, What a Wonderful Man...Hell, i could go on. The album is packed to the brim. Maybe people will skip past Into the Woods, but it's solid in it's weirdness, and if you read the lyrics, it makes a lot more sense than might be immediately evident.

I don't think there's a bad track on this record. And funny thing is, Off the Record and Lay Low have to grow on me again, because I almost outplayed them this  summer. But they'll come back. I love em, I'm just hittin up the "new" songs more.

But about the appeal of the record, it sounds like it will be very easy to get into, the songs are attention catchers, stuff that will turn heads and get feet tapping, and thats awesome.

I think, that with the scope of review this albums getting, it's going to be hard to ignore, and that means a heck of a lot, no matter what musical circle you're in.

[dragonboy]

I think the Leppelin reference is very relevant.
Their amazing music & huge success just shows that popular rock music doesn't have to be shit!
I honestly believe MMJ have the same potential & Z is a big step towards getting them there.

[EC]

I've felt like this for a while...  

It's interesting, because hasn't one of the main threads from the interviews been about them trying to bring people together, which is why they put a bit of soul/r&b/funkiness into this record?  So maybe it's working...  

I have felt for a while that there are a few musicians who will change the face of music for the better.  My Morning Jacket is one of them. M Ward is another.  I think Gillian Welch had a lot to do with it, too.  I could list a lot of people, but those are the first few who come to mind.

[rob]

 

I have felt for a while that there are a few musicians who will change the face of music for the better.  My Morning Jacket is one of them. M Ward is another.  I think Gillian Welch had a lot to do with it, too.  I could list a lot of people, but those are the first few who come to mind.

Another one, IMO, is Patty Griffin...she's just in a class by herself...blows my mind.

[EC]

Another one, IMO, is Patty Griffin...she's just in a class by herself...blows my mind.

I was just thinking more about this outside.  I was being pretty narrow-minded with my first picks.  I'll have to agree with Jim and put Outkast on that list.  For sure.  Those dudes raised the bar in a lot of ways.  And Beck.  

I'm talking about recent people.  

Devotchka.  For sure them.

And I'm trying to figure out what the throughline is.  And I think it's that these people took all of their favourite music, and instead of copying a form, made a new form.  This is why it's so difficult to put them in categories.  Devotchka?  What do you call them?  No idea.  M Ward?  He definitely has a history there, but it's still new.  Same with Gillian Welch and David.  Their forms are traditional, but they're totally her own.  They have all of the history of music behind them, but they make the sounds that work best for them.  So the music is really honest and full of heart.  As totally cheesy as that sounds.  It's dudes doing that thing in their bedrooms and not really caring if they're going to be marketable or not.

It's all for loooooove.  At least, that's how I interpret it.

[dragonboy]

They may have changed or have the potential to change the face of music in their field but I'm not sure that the likes of M.Ward, Gillian Welch or Patty Griffin (as good as they may be) have the potential to reach as many people as MMJ have with Z.
 :)

[EC]

They may have changed or have the potential to change the face of music in their field but I'm not sure that the likes of M.Ward, Gillian Welch or Patty Griffin (as good as they may be) have the potential to reach as many people as MMJ have with Z.
:)

Interesting point... hmmmm...

[Oz]

In January I'm going to record an album and Mr. Andrew Bird's whistling on 'It beats for you' has made want to have some whistling on my own album. So Z has already influenced an artist! Okay, it's just a very unknown singer/songwriter from Utrecht, but still...

[EC]

In January I'm going to record an album and Mr. Andrew Bird's whistling on 'It beats for you' has made want to have some whistling on my own album. So Z has already influenced an artist! Okay, it's just a very unknown singer/songwriter from Utrecht, but still...

You're recording an album in January?!  That's funny.  I was JUST going to write to you and see how your music was going.

That's very exciting news, indeed!  I can't wait to hear it!! :)

[Igottago]

The thing I love about MMJ is they are pretty unpretentious, without losing their creative and artisitic genius. And for that reason, I think they could become quite successful and popular commercially. A lot of good bands in recent years seem so into their "look" or scene that you feel like you need to be part of some kind of special club or have wear a certain outfit to listen to them.  MMJ's music and persona seems more personable, and relatable on that level. Nevermind the fact that the music is better than most. I hope the album becomes relevent in the big scheme of things in rock, because the kids need some inspiration. Most kids will not care enough to go out and find good music, they listen to mainstream music that's given to them. The future of music depends upon albums like this being heard. Not to put any pressure on MMJ. ;)

[realdeal]

No matter what, MMJ will never become that popular, they just won't. 'Z' will be on the scene for a while and then most will forget about it. Their audience isn't really that big. Most people who live in louisville have never even heard of mmj. this record is not going to go gold or anything. i mean they opened for wilco for fucks sake. 'a ghost is born' was an amazing record that im sure not alot of people have heard and they are more popular than MMJ. when a band sell less than 150,000 units, its hard to say this record is going to 'bring back rock'.

[tomEisenbraun]

with an attitude like that, it sounds like you definitely aren't doing your part of telling people about it. and thats what the biggest part of it is. getting the word out. they're not so mainstream, and a very big deal with their promotion is that a lot of it lies with us. and who's to say they won't catch on. they pack their shows and rock like none other. few reviews of their live shows ever have a stale feeling to them. i think you could take someone who isn't totally interested in them to a show and bring em out of their with at least an appreciation for what they just heard. these guys have a lot of power and some serious musical ingenuity thats worth reckoning with.

[EC]

Word, Eisey.  For SURE.  Getting people excited about My Morning Jacket is pretty damn easy.

realdeal, you seriously need to shove some sunlight up your ass. :)

(meant in a kind way, but also a serious way)

[dragonboy]

No matter what, MMJ will never become that popular, they just won't.  

I strongly disagree.
MMJ & Z have the potential to make it big. I'm not saying this will definately happen but the potential is there.

MMJ are an amazing live band & like I said before Z is a very clever, catchy record that has mainstream rock appeal.

Look at Tool, Radiohead, Pearl Jam etc. These bands aren't mainstream but their music has appealed to millions.
MMJ has that potential.