Search - My Morning Jacket :: Chapter 2-Learning-Early Recordings

Endless MMJ for the true junkie

Seestar27 | Flagstaff, AZ | 03/22/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Some great listening..and some great covers-Tyrone being my favorite. Though being a true 80's product I cannot bypass mentioning that MMJ's cover of West End Girls & Take my Breath Away are unbelievable! Get it and Chapter One...you will be pleased."

Very eclectic and fun!!

J. Sutherland | Southport, North Carolina United States | 02/20/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This album, although it's not really an album in its truest sense, is very fun to listen to because you can't help but notice how much fun the band had in recording and arranging this work. First of all, you've got several interesting covers: "Tyrone" from Erica Badu, "Why don't u love me" from Hank Williams (pretty sure it's Hank), "Dream a Little Dream of me," "West End Girls," and "Take my breath away." That right there tells ya that these guys choose to cover all kinds of stuff. And they also like to amuse themselves by throwing in a funny sound bite from "Goose" and "Maverick" at the end of "take my..." Just read the liner notes. Funny stuff.



But really, the album is more beautiful than it is humorous. "Dream a little dream of me" is gorgeous and James with his high tenor falsetto can sing the heck out of this song with soul and passion. I'd say that alot of you, if your looking at this album have heard James sing, so you know what I mean. There's also alot of nice original tracks that don't appear on any other album such as, "I won't cry" and "tonight I wanna celebrate with you." The latter has a drum machine as the percussion which adds alot to this unique song by the Jacket. The former is a nice little love song about missin someone that the Beatles could've written.



As for the originals that have appeared on other albums, "Death is the Easy way," is more up-tempo, and "Bermuda Highway" is excellent; I'd say the best version out there!



This album is fun and accessible, but some recordings are a bit low-fi. I think the album is worth it because it flows together like a real album and it is so diverse. Plus, you really have to hear "west end girls," and "take my breath away." They did an awesome job recording these two songs. Ever heard a Kentucky boy pull off a pseudo-British accent? Hilarious! I'd say if you like MMJ I think you'll really like this...especially if you liked either "At Dawn" or "The Tennesee fire.""