Don't Look Back: My Morning Jacket

My Morning Jacket is a Rock act formed in 1998 out of Louisville, Kentucky. Lead singer/guitarist Jim James named the band after a jacket he saw with the letters "MMJ" written on it. My Morning Jacket's current lineup consists of:
Jim James: Vocals, Guitar
Carl Broemel: Guitar, Steel pedal
Tom Blankenship (aka "Two Tone Tommy"): Bass
Bo Koster: Keyboard
Patrick Hallahan: Drums

My Morning Jacket are more widely known for their live shows and relentless touring in the present than they are for their studio work. That doesn't mean that their studio albums are not good, although it is now becoming more apparent that the albums they make consists of songs that they just want to play live.

I guess I should probably admit that I'm such a big MMJ fan that I wrote this with little or no research, or much listening to the albums while I was writing it.

Grooveshark is especially crappy on this one. Sorry.

My Morning jacket has 5 albums.

5. Evil Urges (2008) Grooveshark

"This album nearly broke the band up" -Patrick Hallahan. When even one of the members of the band thinks that an album is polarizing, that's usually not a good sign. This album is about as uneven as anything I have ever listened to. On top of that some of the songs are just straight up bad (I'm looking at you, Librarian). Like I said in the intro, THIS is the album where I feel like it consists of just songs they wanted to play live. The sad thing is that there are, in between all the mediocrity, some very good songs on this album.
Highlights: Touch Me I'm Going To Scream Pt 1, Thank You Too!, Smokin From Shootin, Touch Me I'm Going To Scream Pt 2.

My Favorite Albums: Los Campesino! - Hold On Now, Youngster

My Favorites Albums is a piece in which I will talk about albums that I love. I pretty much made a big ol' playlist of my favorite albums, and will randomly pick one from time to time to write about.

Los Campesinos! - Hold On Now, Youngster (2008, Wichita Recordings (UK), Arts & Crafts (NA))

LINKS:
Grooveshark
iTunes
Amazon mp3
Metacritic

PART I: INTRO (Or, how I came to like a twee band)


There used to be a nice little site called Fabchannel. Fabchannel streamed and archived live shows from their native Amsterdam for anyone to watch online (here is a link if you like, but sadly the site has been shut down). I used to go there occasionally to watch live shows from bands like Okkervil River, Wilco, M. Ward, etc. The ads on the site usually revolved around one of the upcoming shows they were recording. Around the time that I used to frequent the site, they were advertising for an up and coming English band from Wales, known as Los Campesinos!. Originally the song they would play for the ad annoyed the hell out of me, but the more I heard it the more it grew on me. Their fist album, Hold On Now, Youngster eventually made it to the U.S., to pretty strong reviews (exhibit A, B, and C). So I listened to it, and found that it was much more than just your average twee pop album.

Live Review: Titus Andronicus w/ Free Energy

Castaways, Ithaca, NY

Castaways is a bar in Ithaca. The only reason why I point this out is that fact that the first time I saw Titus Andronicus was at the debacle that was "Last Stop Penn State". I have always been under the assumption that Titus Andronicus would prefer guerrilla warfare in small venues and bars to big stages and festivals. Their amazing show at Pitchfork Fest this year changed my opinion on this (I guess it helps when the crowd is actually their to see you and not Fabulous), but like any good punk band, bars and mid level venues are their battlefield.

I would have taken more and better pictures, but all I have is a 3gs iPhone, whose battery was nearly dead by the time Titus Andronicus even took the stage. I was in the front row until the mosh pit started. It might not have been the biggest mosh pit ever, but it had heart. so for the remainder of the show I was either on the fringe of the pit or in the the thick of it, so no pictures.

Now to the review.

Album Review: Menomena: Mines

Mines is the long overdue return from Portland, Oregon's Menomena. It's been more than three years since their last release, the spectacular Friend and Foe. Menomena is an interesting breed of band. Their sound is not entirely that different than any other rock outfit, but there are layers deeper than we notice. Each of the three members sings song on each of their albums. They are fond of horn instruments. They are also known for creating a computer program (known as deeler) to help them make and record music.

Let's find out if Mines lives up to Menomena's sparkling reputation.

Grooveshark
iTunes
Amazon MP3

Track 1: Queen Black Acid
first off: pretty cool song name. A very well thought out intro song as well. starts slow and works up into a semi frenzy. The only problem with this song is that it seems like it's going to explode into something miraculous at many points, but never really does. The closest we get is a piano riff. Good lyrical structure for the most part.
Verdict: 8/10


Track 2: Taos
There is some of the frenzy we were looking for. A bouncy song both musically and lyrically. Dealing with self confidence and how it effects the singers relationships (which is becoming a common theme in their songs). Also: Saxaphone! Certainly one of the better songs on the album.

Verdict: 10/10

Track 3: Killemall
After two songs from Justin Harris (the de-facto lead singer) we get our first song from Brent Knopf. He has always been the most, i don't know, emotional? depressed? member of the band. His songs are always more filled with despair than the rest of the lot. Their sound manages to mold itself to each member though, and this song is another example of that.

Verdict 9/10

Album Review: Arcade Fire: The Suburbs

Arcade Fire grew too fast. Their first album, Funeral, was filled with childish wonderment and innocence. They burst onto the scene and quickly found themselves selling out larger and larger venues behind critical praise. You know your rise is meteoric when another band feels the need to write a song about how the hype is beginning to get out of hand (see "This is the Dream of Win and Regine" by Final Fantasy).

Their second album, Neon Bible, was nearly the antithesis of Funeral. Apocalyptic and brooding, it seemed as if the perils of fame and (at least probably seen by them) fake praise had taken its toll. Metaphorically it was as if Win, Regine, Will, et all had skipped their adolescence and early twenties and gone straight to the crushing perils of adulthood.

Now we have the album to fill this gap. The Suburbs, although musically subdued and constrained, is filled with longing and raw emotion. The feeling of being locked in an imaginary prison, all the while wanting to escape, is prevalent throughout.

This review will be slightly different than most. The Suburbs is clearly a very lyrical album. Beyond just rating the songs, I will post my favorite lyrics from each song.

Oh, and no stream links. Go buy an album for once assholes.

Listened to on vinyl, then mp3.

Track 1: The Suburbs
Right off the bat, we get a song about feeling stuck in the suburbs. Win (Butler, lead singer) dreams about the walls crumbling down, and being able to be free. Instead of wanting this to happen as he might have on Neon Bible, it makes him feel like maybe he is running out of time.

"So can you understand?
Why I want a daughter while I'm still young
I wanna hold her hand
And show her some beauty
Before this damage is done

But if it's too much to ask, it's too much to ask
Then send me a son"

9/10

Track 2: Ready To Start
Probably the closest to a simple meaning song. Dealing with loss of love and loss of self. Scared that his choices has compromised his vision ("If the businessmen drink my blood
Like the kids in art school said they would..."), The narrator broods alone by himself. The lyrics also touch on losing love and how it affects not only you, but the world around you. Also one of the better instrumental songs on the album.

"Now you're knocking at my door
Saying please come out with us tonight
But I would rather be alone
Than pretend I feel alright"

10/10