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Elly Roberts reviews
Columbia (Sony/BMG)
- Released: October 2006
- Rating: 10/10
- Format: 2-CD set
Epic live double CDthat features most of the songs from 2005’s criticallyacclaimed Z by hairy American country – rock quintet My Morning Jacket.A band with a warped sense of humour (see sleevenotes), they surprisinglytake their music seriously; very seriously.
This magical CD showcases, in particular Jim James stunning voice, a bandwith a huge cult following in the States. Theyre yet to crack the UK on acommercial level. This might just do it. Hailed as THE Americana band overthe pond, MMJ, deliver an immaculate account of their live cred runningacross several genres such rock, country, psychedelic soul, dance beats, andwell, even the kitchen sink at times.
Wordless Chord begins the gradual crescendo its steady and funkybass set the tone. From the off its steady beats on Wordless Chorus,then we hear Jim James incredible soaring vocals, supported by Beach Boysstyled backups – a heavenly beginning if there ever was. Going up a pace,the rippling drums by Patrick Hallam, set even higher limits for Jamessinging on thumping spacer It Beats 4 U, which almost explodes at4 minutes.
Gideon, a genuine lightweight stadium rocker, a la Coldplay, is one ofthe 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 aFreebird (Lynyrd Skynyrd) solo exploration.
Catchy Lowdown, and its probably the only one that could be calledthat, has its rockier interlude through a clever jangly ditty, givingcountrymen The Byrds a massive nod. Countrified Golden, is the one that showstheir rootsier influences, making it THE stellar song on disc 1.
Dondante, with an 11-minute steady blues sojournbuilding up to an immense crescendo of wailing guitar. Spacey ballads At Dawn,I Think Im Going To Hell (a touch of Pink Floyd for sure) nestle up torockers Steam Engines dirty guitars and rock-plodder O Is The One
Covering the two discs, the atmosphere is clearly palpable, confirming theyreally are Americas musical messiahs.
MMJ have been threatening to do a masterpiece for some time: strange itshould come as live offering!
Weblinks:mymorningjacket.com /columbia.co.uk/mmj
The full list of tracks included are :
Disc 1.
1. Wordless Chords
2. It Beats 4 U
3. Gideon
4. One Big Holiday
5. I Will Sing You Songs
6. Lowdown
7. The Way That He Sings
8. What A Wonderful Man
9. Off The Record
10. Golden
11. Lay Low
Disc 2.
1. Dondante
2. Run Thru
3. At Dawn
4. Xmas Curtain
5. O Is The One Thats Real
6. I Think Im Going To Hell
7. Steam Engine
8. Dancefloors
9. Anytime
10. Mahgeetah
Elly Roberts passed away in 2011, but he was a man who was so passionate about all types of music and loved meeting his musical heroes, such as Mick Hucknall at a book signing at the Trafford Centre, Manchester in 2007.
A former teacher and also a music journalist, DJ and radio presenter on local community station Calon FM, plus appearances on BBC Radio Wales, BBC Radio Cymru and BBC Radio 2, Elly started doing reviews for DVDfever.co.uk in 2004 and he did the majority of the CD and concerts reviews on the website.
I know also that he loved getting away for the summer to Spain and I hope that wherever he is now he is enjoying the hot sunshine and, as one of his friends has said on his Facebook page, that he is interviewing his musical heroes.