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Z
Price: $19.97 Prices subject to change.
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Binding: Audio CD
EAN: 0828767106724
Format: Enhanced
Label: Ato Records
Manufacturer: Ato Records
MPN: 71067
Number Of Discs: 1
Publisher: Ato Records
Release Date: October 04, 2005
Studio: Ato Records
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Editorial Review:
Two years and a pair of band members have passed since My Morning Jacket's last album, and the respite seems to have reinvented the Louisville, Ky., band and its leader Jim James. Shelved are the boogie-soaked country and hard-stomping metal of the first three records--assuring that all links to Lynyrd Skynyrd are hereby obsolete--and the sleek maturation of James's wailing, echoing falsetto may have even nullified the Neil Young comparisons. Using the guitar as a complement more than as a weapon, songwriter James has simplified the sound where keyboards take the lead and choruses play like a '70s AM radio. While songs like "Anytime" and "What a Wonderful Man" channel the old MMJ sound, they do so with less chaos and more spontaneity. That's the trend for the record's best: "Wordless Chorus" and its infectious "aaaah" refrain, the Hawaii Five-O-riffed ska of "Off the Record" and a Stranglers-minded carnival waltz, "Into the Woods." Serving as a pop-music paradigm that change is good, Z is ambitious, groundbreaking and downright impeccable. --Scott Holter
Japanese pressing of their 2005 album features one bonus track, 'Chills' which was previously available on the US Vinyl version of 'Z' and as a European B-side to the first single 'Off the Record'. While much of Z comes as a shock, even the surprises should seem perfectly natural in hindsight. The combination of the hushed, indie balladry of their early records with the spacious guitar rock of their last was to be expected, but My Morning Jacket's recent history all but demands the newer, more exotic rhythms and textures on Z, which makes it clear that this is a great band, doing great things who've been playing it safe until now. Z is an ambitious leap of faith into a new frontier where the old rules don't apply, and My Morning Jacket seem perfectly happy to write their own. 11 tracks in total. BMG. 2005.
Customer Reviews
Average Rating: 
Rating: - "Z" is a Keeper
For fans of MMJ, this album is a continuation of an impressive, enjoyable body of work from these Kentuckians. The reverb on the vocals really make the album for me. I'm looking forward to their new album coming out!
Rating:  - If Gram Parsons were an astronaut...
...he would have made a record that sounded like this. for me, Z holds the title belt for best record of 2005. James took a pretty big gamble w/ the spacey atmosphere on this one, and it payed off in spades, creating an utterly original sound that catapulted them from being a super-tight jam band to one of the most unique and exciting american bands out there right now. from beginning to end, there's not a single sub-par track. "what a wonderful man" sounds like "clouds taste metallic" era flaming ... Read More
Rating:  - I'm just not feeling it
Directed to this band after tasting some eclectic mixes of new folk, rock and jazz influences that also include some punk and post metal. With Z I like the songwriting but the singer just doesn't cut it, often droning on and then OUT and sounding sometimes like he is out of breath.
Does this guy smoke or something? A nice radiance within some songs but at times this is nothing more than a jam band that tries so hard to separate themselves from the other of their kind that they end up ... Read More
Rating: - Long Live Rock (Rock Ain't Dead!)
My Morning Jacket provides proof positive that Rock and Roll is still alive and kicking. Not only are these songs catchy, but a few also add the wonderful rockin' jams that sets My Morning Jacket apart from other, lesser "hard rock" bands.
My favorites are What A Wonderful Man, Off the Record, and others whose names escape me. In fact, it's such a strong effort throughout that it's not necessary to pick out a few as "the best." It's the opposite of that horribly upsetting feeling of buying ... Read More
Rating: - My Morning Jacket Sucks . . . Not
The 2005, year-in-review indie lists touted one of two albums as the best of the year. 2004's hands down
winner was The Arcade Fire's Funeral, and the indie folks are still talking about them, even after a less
than pleasing follow-up. For 2005, My Morning Jacket's Z, and I'm Wide Awake, It's Morning by Bright Eyes
were at the top of many lists for trendy music sifters and reviewers. I first listened to the latter, and
was somewhat dissappointed at my first taste of the indie ... Read More
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