IT'S NOT LIKE THEY'RE SINGING THE BARD:

My Morning Jacket's eclectic musical mix does not disappoint (Mary Guiden, 1/10/07, The Seattle Times)

A sold-out crowd enthusiastically ate up everything that the hard-to-typecast band known as My Morning Jacket doled out during a two-hour set Monday night at the Moore Theatre. And "everything" means around 20 tunes that encompass Southern rock, country ballads, "Hawaii Five-0" licks, R&B, falsetto vocals and hard-pounding guitars.

It was a scene even music lovers who aren't fans of the jam-band style of playing (including me) could sincerely enjoy for the spectacle of lights, masterful musicianship, frequently infectious tracks and the wide-ranging vocals and energy of lead singer Jim James.

MMJ -- which played to a mostly older 20- and 30-something crowd -- is known for its innovative style, marked by James' falsetto and an occasional metal-style shriek (complete with heavy-metal head-banger moves). The band's musical delivery is also replete with echo and reverb, effects that make it challenging to discern song lyrics unless you're a hard-core fan.

More bands should follow suit...

Posted by Orrin Judd at January 10, 2007 7:38 AM