Listening Priority: Medium
Jim James is a strange figure in the 2000s rock scene. On one hand, he has a singular voice and has forged some of the most rocking songs around. On the other hand, he appears to be crazy *. These two hands are inextricably chained together by a set of sequined handcuffs, providing us with amazingly silly and catchy songs like "Holdin' On To Black Metal," random covers of Kool & The Gang's "Get Down On It" and The Chipmunk's "Christmas Don't Be Late," and the overly ridiculous or banal fare featured on recent My Morning Jacket albums. Fortunately, for his debut album, Jim James tones down some of his wackiness in favor of his more spiritual side. Despite the depth of issues that he's dealing with - religion, love, and living in a technological age, he doesn't sink the album with overly-somber instrumentation (at least until the final two songs). There's some excellent experimentation on "State of the Art," a strutting, upbeat feel with "A New Life," and a joyful MMJ-at-Bonnaroo vibe to "Of the Mother Again." We're still stuck with many bland, laughably vague ("I got my state of the art technology"), or overly-sincere lyrics ("I have a dream, Oh Dr. King well I know what you mean, We were all equal in your eyes at least, God speaking through you….."), but the lyrics seem to matter less here than the spiritual sentiments that James' voice broadcasts. Regions of Light and Sound of God isn't free from the mistakes that have plagued recent My Morning Jacket records, but it remains my favorite studio album that Jim James has been associated with since It Still Moves.
Jim James is a strange figure in the 2000s rock scene. On one hand, he has a singular voice and has forged some of the most rocking songs around. On the other hand, he appears to be crazy *. These two hands are inextricably chained together by a set of sequined handcuffs, providing us with amazingly silly and catchy songs like "Holdin' On To Black Metal," random covers of Kool & The Gang's "Get Down On It" and The Chipmunk's "Christmas Don't Be Late," and the overly ridiculous or banal fare featured on recent My Morning Jacket albums. Fortunately, for his debut album, Jim James tones down some of his wackiness in favor of his more spiritual side. Despite the depth of issues that he's dealing with - religion, love, and living in a technological age, he doesn't sink the album with overly-somber instrumentation (at least until the final two songs). There's some excellent experimentation on "State of the Art," a strutting, upbeat feel with "A New Life," and a joyful MMJ-at-Bonnaroo vibe to "Of the Mother Again." We're still stuck with many bland, laughably vague ("I got my state of the art technology"), or overly-sincere lyrics ("I have a dream, Oh Dr. King well I know what you mean, We were all equal in your eyes at least, God speaking through you….."), but the lyrics seem to matter less here than the spiritual sentiments that James' voice broadcasts. Regions of Light and Sound of God isn't free from the mistakes that have plagued recent My Morning Jacket records, but it remains my favorite studio album that Jim James has been associated with since It Still Moves.