Okonokos - My Morning Jacket Album Review

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Album Review

Epic live double CD that features most of the songs from 2005s critically acclaimed 'Z' by hairy American country - rock quintet My Morning Jacket. A band with a warped sense of humour (see sleevenotes), they surprisingly take their music seriously; very seriously.

This magical CD showcases, in particular Jim James's stunning voice, a band with a huge cult following in the States. They're yet to crack the UK on a commercial level. This might just do it. Hailed as THE Americana band over the pond, MMJ, deliver an immaculate account of their live 'cred' running across several genres such rock, country, psychedelic soul, dance beats, and well, even the kitchen sink at times.

Wordless Chord begins the gradual crescendo - it's steady and funky bass set the tone. From the off it's steady beats on Wordless Chorus, then we hear Jim James's incredible soaring vocals, supported by Beach Boys' styled backups - a heavenly beginning if there ever was. Going up a pace, the rippling drums by Patrick Hallam, set even higher limits for James' singing on thumping spacer It Beats 4 U, which almost explodes at 4 minutes. Gideon, a genuine lightweight stadium rocker, a la Coldplay, is one of the many beauties on offer, with Hallam having a whale of a time on the sticks. Carl Broemel, guitarist, shows his class on One Big Holiday matching a Freebird (Lynyrd Skynyrd) solo exploration.

Catchy Lowdown, and it's probably the only one that could be called that, has its rockier interlude through a clever jangly ditty, giving countrymen The Byrds a massive nod. Countrified Golden, is the one that shows their rootsier influences, making it THE stellar song on disc 1. CD 2 opens with Dondante, with an 11 minute steady blues sojourn building up to an immense crescendo of wailing guitar. Spacey ballads At Dawn, I Think I'm Going To Hell ( a touch of Pink Floyd for sure ) nestle up to rockers Steam Engine's dirty guitars and rock-plodder O Is The One...

Covering the two discs, the atmosphere is clearly palpable, confirming they really are America's musical messiahs.

MMJ have been threatening to do a masterpiece for some time: strange it should come as live offering!

Elly Roberts