Re: Praise for Evil Urges?

[Nikkogino]

OK. I've listened Evil Urges.  I almost never post on here, but upon repeated listenings I had the urge to post a sarcastic message saying something to the effect of "I just heard this new album by the contemporary Christian rock band My Morning Jacket...".  Having kind of said that anyway, I must follow it up by noting that I find it hard to understand where Jim is coming from nowadays if it's not from a Christian perspective, despite what he says in interviews.  My wife, who grew up in an overtly Christian environment in Kentucky, says some of the songs like "Look at You" remind her of the ones she used to have to sing in church.  If this just Jim James not being able to shake his regional  roots or is he really directing his songs towards Jesus?  While I recognize that there always has been a spiritual nature to the music, it used to be that it was cryptic enough that, as a secular person, I could still find my own meaning in it.  I find that hard to do with the new album as it seems to have crossed the line into Christian Rock with obvious biblical/religious aspects to almost every song.  I really want to see MMJ live again, having only had the opportunity to see them once in 2004 on the It Still Moves tour (and being blown away in the process and a fan ever since) but if this is the direction they are moving I don't think it's something I can get behind.  Is anyone else having an issue with this nature of the new album, or am I totally misunderstanding Jim's muse?  And...is Two Halves not the stupidest most dumbed-down song MMJ has ever produced?!!!  I thought I was listening to Five for Fighting or something when I first heard it.  

I kinda think you are over-reacting.  This albums has MANY influences.  Most old time American music has its roots in Christian music...whether it be gospel music, slave hymns, etc.  I'm not an extremely religous person but I don't think there is anything wrong with being spiritual.  And artists who get "spiritual" with their music (or as Jim says, "In the Zone") tend to have this result: the music has FEELING.  I can see what you are saying with songs like "Look at You" or "Smokin' From Shootin'" but come on....look at the album as a whole.  Jim might allude to God in some songs but he could just as easily be singing about a chick (Thank You Too, Look at You).  People nowadays are almost scared to talk about (let alone sing about their spirituality)...Jim has balls for showing his all on this record.  Regardless of if he is singing praise to God throughout Evil Urges, or if you are just reading into something that isn't there, look at this album's tracks....overtly religous?  I just don't see it:

Evil Urges- Jim sings about things not being evil unless it hurts someone.....that isn't very Christian-like.

Touch Me Part 1- "the sounds you make when you are pleased"....again, not very Christian-like to sing about.

Highly Suspicious-  This song is just nuts and although Jesus would probably laugh at the giggling and nod his head in enjoyment, there are no religious elements here.

I'm Amazed-  Although I don't really know the lyrics, this song seems to be more about Jim's reactions to everything he sees...so not a straight up religous song either

Thank You Too- Again, this song can be looked at a number of ways....he could be thanking someone specific, could be his freaking girlfriend.

Sec Walkin- No God references here brother.

Two Halves- About wanting your cake and eating it too.

Librarian- Don't see anything in the Bible about sexy librarians.

Look At You- I think this is what you are talking about...but come on man, picture Jim singing this to a perfect chick or even his mom for God's sakes (sorry for saying God...don't want this forum to be too religious).

Aluminum Park- nothing.

Remnants- He does mention heaven but this song is too rockin for me to give a shit what he says...

Smokin' from Shootin'- The other song I think you are referring to...again, the song is not blatantly religious.  This song could mean so many different things (which is why it is so good).

Touch Me Part 2- Again, no God references.




I don't mean to jump down your throat since this forum is a pretty nice place, but to contemplate not going to a concert because Jim may or may not be singing about God is pretty ridiculous to me.

[Angry Ewok]

I think it'd be interesting to see how many people here would be disappointed (if not utterly repulsed) if Jim were to write a song that was blatantly Christian.

[folieadeux322]

Did he delete his first post?

hahahaha

[tannisroot]

OK - I'll retract my original post and simply ask this:
How many think MMJ is a Christian rock band in hiding?  

[megalicious]

sounds like somebody needs to be locked in a room with the doobie's "jesus is just alright with me" ON REPEAT.

feel the love.

[Kimbos_Evil_Bread]

I don't believe in the Big JC and think Gospel music is one of the best forms of musical expressions out there.  Who cares if the boys got a lil faith?

Doubt Jim will be passing out eucharist at shows anytime soon.

[folieadeux322]

OK - I'll retract my original post and simply ask this:
How many think MMJ is a Christian rock band in hiding?  

Why does that bother you so much?

Bob Dylan was a Christian for a good while and some of his best music (Slow Train) reflected that.

Don't worry your pecker isn't going to fall off if you dig a (somewhat) Christian band.

BTW - I'm the furthest thing from being a Christan. I'm a Philly sports fan, I curse God off everynight.

[Angry Ewok]

How many think MMJ is a Christian rock band in hiding?  

Impossible. They're musicians.

[Zzzzzzzz]

Let me preface by saying MMJ is now my favorite band right now.  I too was wondering why so many christian type references are in the songs.  I was brought up Jewish, but am about as secular as one could be in my adult years.  Honestly, religion means ZERO to me in my life.  If anything music and family are my "religion."


The one sense that I do get is the lyrics are more geared toward a "higher power" rather tan a particular religion.  Never and Jesus references, but plenty of God type references.

I too am on the "i'd be very disappointed" if they went in a more Christian vibe.  To be honest, it would make me a little sick.  Just as I don't want religion in my politics, I don't want it in my music either.

Glad someone else brought this up though.  This has been on my mind.

[tannisroot]

I kinda think you are over-reacting.  

It's good to hear you say that.  I may be.  Hard core religious people would probably see a lot less of a connection there than I do.  But still it's there and seems to be more prevalent on Evil Urges.  I completely dug the line from an earlier album (which I might have a word or two off) "To anyone who wondered what old Jebus means to me, take 'em out to go diving in Red Pagoda sea".  

[Zzzzzzzz]

Bob Dylan was a Christian for a good while and some of his best music (Slow Train) reflected that.



Bob Dylan was born a Jew and still is one.

[Love Dogg]

I had the urge to post a sarcastic message saying something to the effect of "I just heard this new album by the contemporary Christian rock band My Morning Jacket...".  Having kind of said that anyway, I must follow it up by noting that I find it hard to understand where Jim is coming from nowadays if it's not from a Christian perspective.....
....... or is he really directing his songs towards Jesus?  
......with the new album as it seems to have crossed the line into Christian Rock with obvious biblical/religious aspects to almost every song.  
.... but if this is the direction they are moving I don't think it's something I can get behind.  

I don't think there has been a single "Christian" reference in the history of MMJ. Keep in mind that you have to refer to Jesus for it to be Christian.  God?...sure.  But there's nothing wrong with that.  He's been listening to a lot of Marvin Gaye and falling in love and shit.  I mean, you have to thank God for a hot librarian...not Jesus.  :o

On the other hand...so what if he/they went Christian for a minute.  It wouldn't kill their career. ***see "Blood On the Tracks" by Bob Dylan***  ;)

[Angry Ewok]

I don't think there has been a single "Christian" reference in the history of MMJ. Keep in mind that you have to refer to Jesus for it to be Christian.

Does Jebus count?

Bob Dylan was born a Jew and still is one.

If you're born a Jew, you will die a Jew. Unavoidable.

[tannisroot]

Bob Dylan was a Christian for a good while and some of his best music (Slow Train) reflected that.

I find Dylan's Christian period to be very interesting.  I've often wanted to learn more about that and see if it alienated his audience, or if he was able to persuade some of them to come with him, because, after all, he was still the all powerful Bob Dylan back in '78 or so when this became the focus of his music.  And why exactly did Dylan get caught up in this.  I don't know if there is a book or something which delves into this but I'd like to read it if there is.

Gillian Welch has a lot of this in her music too, but for some reason it doesn't bother me as much.  I just think that music stars like Jim James wield a lot of power and influence and need to be careful with how they use that.  Sounds like he's using that for good.  If Jerry Garcia had ever gone Christian just imagine how many Deadheads would have blindly followed him right down that path.  Don't know where I'm going with this.  I just read that in Iceland most of the country is atheist or non-religious, yet the majority of the population still believes in elves.  That too me is pretty  cool.

[Zzzzzzzz]

" If Jerry Garcia had ever gone Christian just imagine how many Deadheads would have blindly followed him right down that path."


I never liked We Bid You Goodnight.  It was always just too religious for my tastes.

[tannisroot]

" If Jerry Garcia had ever gone Christian just imagine how many Deadheads would have blindly followed him right down that path."


I never liked We Bid You Goodnight.  It was always just too religious for my tastes.

I don't know if you're being sarcastic or not but I may know what you mean.  The Grateful Dead were the first real rock band that I could sink my teeth into...got to see them a few times there at the end before Jerry passed... and used them as a springboard to numerous other bands and styles. They kind of helped me differentiate between what was real music and what was not, during formative years.  Long story short, I recently saw Dark Star again (whom I've seen many times) and notice that I was uber-sensitive and very analytical with regard to all the biblical references in the music (Greatest Story, My Sisters and My Brothers, and so on).  The real "dyed in the wool" Deadheads there in attendance were getting something more congregation-like, community oriented than I was.  It was weird but the magic that was there before was gone and it just felt stale and conventional.  Part of that is me just getting older and cynical I guess.

[tannisroot]

sounds like somebody needs to be locked in a room with the doobie's "jesus is just alright with me" ON REPEAT.

feel the love.

I prefer the Byrds' version.

[Zzzzzzzz]

No.  I wasn't being sarcastic.  I love the Dead and even though they had biblical stories in some of their songs, We Bid you Good Night was the one that I just always hated.  Maybe because of the Jesus reference.  I'm sure I'll get bashed, but that was not the part of the Dead that inspired me.

[RedPatokaSea]

Jim James is a spiritual man.  

He likes to sing about spirituality.  Sure his approach has Christian influences, how could it not?  However, would someone please point me to the song where Jim sings "Praise the baby Jesus" on this album?  I must be listening to something completely different.  

[size=36]Spiritual [ch8800] Religious[/size]

Equating the two is a fundamental mistake.  All religions contain contradictions to rationality, or contradictions within the texts themselves.  Faith is not necessairly a statement of religiousness.  

The only mention of "Jebus" I know of seems to allude to his humaness, not his holiness.

"Would he like to go diving in the Red Pakota Sea."

That's where my forum name came from.  ;)

[Zzzzzzzz]

I can honestly say I completely disagree with one of the lyric lines of Smokin from Shootin.

The line about Evolution and faith.  To me, there is one answer to the question.  There are no two sides to that story in my world.  But hey, that's just me.