DJ Gnocchi

Okay, so the scariest thing about My Morning Jacket could be their hair. Or the deafening volume of their live shows. At a recent show during the holidays, Baby Boy and I, along with Derek and Elizabeth, had our inner ears mangled and our vital organs liquidized. I was also very impressed with the new songs from their monumental album Z, which could very well be the best thing they’ve done. I mean MMJ was essentially a spaced-out, reverb-drenched group of boys from Louisville (home of the Hot Brown) who devoutly rocked a Neil Young / Pink Floyd archetype with the best guitar solos around. But this new record, produced by John Leckie - he was at the boards for the Stone Roses, Radiohead, the Verve - brings both a new playfulness and a weird soulful edge to the songs. Some of it recalls 80’s synth atmospherica, like Jan Hammer and MIAMI VICE (but in a good good way). MMJ always had grit and plenty of heart, but there are now veins of reggae,R&B, even dance along with their unique lost-in-space-hillbilly-distress-call shit. The guitars are barely dialed down (definately not turned down live) and the bass and keyboards are bit more upfront, the songs themselves - like Jim James’ hair - a bit shorter, more focused, giving the band a new context. No longer just the only southern jam band the hipster masses approve of, MMJ has stumbled upon a modern almost urban directive that remains sincere, psychedelic, and still loud as hell. With the groove in their heart, My Morning Jacket have blown the doors off its hinges and may just step into the unknown next time around.

New Pornographers show last night. One of the best of the year, indeed, but even more enthralling was new addition to the band, the lil’ sister of Blain Turner, keyboardist. At first I swore she was wearing braces, but then, she played and rocked the tamborine and melodica with verve, spunk, and sass. She ruled and stole the show, which is nearly impossible to do when you’re singing harmony with Neko Case. Total showcrush. Why don’t hipsters dance at shows? No wonder we lost the election ….