My Morning Jacket

My Morning Jacket

My Morning Jacket performing at Newport Folk Festival in 2015
Background information
Origin Louisville, Kentucky, U.S.
Genres
Years active 1998–present
Labels
Associated acts Winter Death Club
Website mymorningjacket.com
Members
Past members
  • Johnny Quaid
  • Danny Cash
  • J. Glenn
  • Chris Guetig

My Morning Jacket is an American rock band formed in Louisville, Kentucky in 1998. The band currently consists of vocalist/guitarist Jim James, bassist Tom Blankenship, drummer Patrick Hallahan, guitarist Carl Broemel, and keyboardist Bo Koster.[1] The band's sound, rooted in rock and country, is often experimental and psychedelic. The group amassed a following beginning in the 2000s in part due to their live performances.

The group first found success in Europe after the release of their debut album, The Tennessee Fire (1999). Their next release, At Dawn (2001), led to a large stateside following and preceded several lineup changes. After signing to major label ATO Records, the group released two albums, It Still Moves (2003) and Z (2005), with the latter representing a critical breakthrough. Their next release, Evil Urges (2008), was more polarizing for fans and critics, while Circuital (2011), their sixth album, saw a more measured response. After many years of side projects and touring, the band's seventh album, The Waterfall, was released in 2015.

History

Formation and debut releases (1998–2000)

My Morning Jacket was formed in Louisville, Kentucky in 1998 by singer-songwriter Jim James. James created the group as an outlet for acoustic songs he had developed on his own that his band at the time, Month of Sundays, could not use.[2] The group's first lineup included his cousin, Johnny Quaid (guitar), Tom Blankenship (bass), and J. Glenn on drums, all formerly of Shelbyville-based emo-punk band Winter Death Club. The band's name stems from James, who once found a tainted coat with the emblazoned letters MMJ.[3]

The band's debut album, The Tennessee Fire, was released in May 1999. It was mildly successful in the U.S., though it became a surprise hit internationally, particularly in the Netherlands. Soon, the group launched a European tour, where they received high marks from Dutch press; they also appeared in the Dutch documentary, This is NOT America. Danny Cash joined the band as keyboardist in 2000.[4]

Early years and breakthrough (2001–2007)

The band's sophomore effort, At Dawn (2001), helped grow the group's fanbase in their home country. For the album, James recorded his vocals in a grain silo, creating a sound heavy on echo that became a hallmark of the band's early releases. Subsequently, drummer J. Glenn left the band, and was briefly replaced by Chris Guetig.[5] Patrick Hallahan, James' childhood best friend, replaced Guetig.[4] In the early 2000s, the band toured heavily, often supporting bands such as Guided by Voices, Doves, and Foo Fighters.[4] The group signed to independent label ATO Records in 2002 ahead of their third album, It Still Moves, which saw release in September 2003 to wide acclaim. In January 2004, Cash and Quaid announced their departure from the group; they were replaced by keyboardist Bo Koster and guitarist Carl Broemel.[4]

Z, released in 2005, became their breakthrough album.[3] It received highly positive critical reviews; in his review for Rolling Stone, veteran critic David Fricke wrote, "America is a lot closer to getting its own Radiohead, and it isn't Wilco." The album was noticeable for a break from James' heavily-reverbed vocals, and featured experimentation with dub, reggae and psychedelic rock.[5] Okonokos, a live album captured while the band toured Z, was released in 2006.

The band's four-hour late-night set in the rain at Bonnaroo 2008 has been regarded among their best performances.[6][7]

Shift in sound (2008–2013)

The band's next release, Evil Urges, marked a considerable shift in their sound; it received polarizing reactions from fans and critics. Many songs on the album developed on 90-minute walks James would embark on in Louisville; its lyrics centered on a relationship that fell apart shortly before recording.[7] To promote the album, the band appeared on Saturday Night Live. The band toured in support of the record that summer, which included a storied appearance at Bonnaroo Music Festival in Manchester, Tennessee. The band, beginning at midnight, performed for four hours in the rain. Unfazed by a torrential downpour for much of its first half, the band's set went on to feature thirty five songs, including all but two tracks from Evil Urges and numerous covers, and featured guest appearances from Kirk Hammett of Metallica. The set has commonly been regarded as among the band's personal best and in the history of that festival; Rolling Stone called it "career-defining."[7] Evil Urges was nominated for a Grammy for Best Alternative rock Album. To close out the decade, My Morning Jacket performed before a sold-out crowd at Madison Square Garden in New York. The entire band appeared as themselves in the American Dad! episode, "My Morning Straitjacket", which aired on November 22, 2009.

In 2010, My Morning Jacket took up residency at New York's Terminal 5 on October 18, 19, 21, 22 and 23, performing one of their five studio releases each night along with additional material from the relevant period.[8] According to the September 16, 2010 issue of Rolling Stone, My Morning Jacket has started working on their next LP. "We've got five songs done," says front man Jim James. "It'll probably be out next spring." James is co-producing the record with The Decemberists collaborator Tucker Martine in an old church in My Morning Jacket's hometown of Louisville, Kentucky. "We're trying to do everything but the strings live," says James. "There's something old and dirty-sounding about it." Their sixth album Circuital was released on May 31, 2011. The band toured for two years in support of Circuital. In 2013, they embarked on a tour alongside Wilco and Bob Dylan that left them disappointed, as they had falsely been told Dylan desired to work with them.[9]

Recent events (2014–present)

While the band took a break, James stayed busy, touring behind his solo album, Regions of Light and Sound of God, and collaborating with Elvis Costello and Marcus Mumford for the New Basement Tapes project. These individual side projects, rather than detach the musicians, worked to strengthen their skill as musicians, according to Blankenship. This led to a greater appreciation of the group upon their return to it.[10] The band's next album, The Waterfall, was mainly recorded at a hilltop mansion in the coastal town of Stinson Beach, California.[11] The band felt the surroundings were "slightly supernatural,"[12] which produced a largely idyllic recording process.[9] The Waterfall was released in May 2015, debuting number 11 on the Billboard 200 in the U.S., with 33,000 copies sold in its first week.[13] In December 2015, The Waterfall was nominated for the Grammy Award for Best Alternative Music Album.[14]

The sessions for The Waterfall were fruitful, producing over 24 completed songs, enough to fill two albums. Consequently, the band will release a second album of material in 2016, although material for that album was incomplete at the release of The Waterfall.[11]

Band members

Current members

Former members

Timeline

Side projects and guest appearances

Side projects

Guest appearances

Discography

Studio albums

Film, TV and compilation appearances

Film

TV

Compilation appearances

References

  1. ↑ Perry, Johnathan. My Morning Jacket Turns up the Heat. The Boston Globe. December 4, 2006.
  2. ↑ William Bowers (August 1, 2002). "Interviews: My Morning Jacket". Pitchfork. Retrieved October 21, 2015.
  3. 1 2 Ryan Reed (May 5, 2015). "My Morning Jacket: Renewal from The Waterfall". Paste. Retrieved October 21, 2015.
  4. 1 2 3 4 Andrew Leahey. "My Morning Jacket: Biography". Allmusic. Retrieved October 21, 2015.
  5. 1 2 "My Morning Jacket: Biography". Rolling Stone. Retrieved October 21, 2015.
  6. ↑ Jason Lipshutz (June 11, 2014). "Bonnaroo: 10 Most Legendary Moments". Billboard. Retrieved October 21, 2015.
  7. 1 2 3 Austin Scaggs (July 10, 2008). "My Morning Jacket: Cosmic Travelers". Rolling Stone (1056). Retrieved October 21, 2015.
  8. ↑ Greenblatt, Jeffrey "MMJ To Play 5 Nights At Terminal 5" Hidden Track (Glide Magazine) - June 9, 2010
  9. 1 2 Patrick Doyle (April 23, 2015). "Remaking My Morning Jacket: Behind Dark New 'The Waterfall'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved June 10, 2015.
  10. ↑ Neil Ferguson (April 28, 2015). "My Morning Jacket's Tom Blakenship Talks The Waterfall (Interview)". Glide. Retrieved June 10, 2015.
  11. 1 2 Jason Newman (December 3, 2014). "Jim James on My Morning Jacket's Two New Albums: 'I Had Tons of Songs'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved June 10, 2015.
  12. ↑ Mike Ayers (May 4, 2015). "Jim James on Finding the Heart of My Morning Jacket's New Album 'The Waterfall'". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved June 10, 2015.
  13. ↑ Emily White (May 15, 2015). "Muse Leads Alternative Songs, Breaking Benjamin Returns". Billboard. Retrieved June 11, 2015.
  14. ↑ "58th Annual GRAMMY Awards Nominees". The GRAMMYs. Retrieved February 8, 2016.
  15. ↑ Kreps, Daniel (September 19, 2016). "Jim James Announces New Solo LP 'Eternally Even'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved September 19, 2016.
  16. ↑ McCabe, Sean "Spanish Gold Reclaim Spirit of Classic MTV on Out on the Street" Rolling Stone February 24, 2014
  17. ↑ "On Approach > Credits" Allmusic
  18. ↑ "Young the Giant sign to Y&LC" God is in the TV - December 13, 2010
  19. ↑ Amrit "Dr. Dog – 'Shadow People' (Stereogum Premiere)" Stereogum - February 9, 2011
  20. ↑ Hasty, Katie "Jack White and Wanda Jackson cover Bob Dylan" Hit Fix - December 13, 2010
  21. ↑ Justin "Abigail Washburn - City Of Refuge" entertainment-focus.com - February 6, 2011 Archived February 9, 2011, at the Wayback Machine.
  22. ↑ Evans, Rob "SXSW: Preservation Hall Jazz Band at The Moody Theater" Soundspike.com - March 18, 2011
  23. ↑ "My Morning Jacket by My Morning Jacket: Tom Blankenship". Louisville Magazine. Retrieved July 11, 2012.
  24. ↑ "My Morning Jacket by My Morning Jacket: Patrick Hallahan". Louisville Magazine. Retrieved July 11, 2012.
  25. ↑ "My Morning Jacket by My Morning Jacket: Jim James". Louisville Magazine. Retrieved July 11, 2012.
  26. ↑ Gundersen, Edna "John Fogerty talks about sharing songs with Everyone" USA Today - February 25, 2013
  27. ↑ Aswad, Jem "Ray LaMontagne, Accompanied By Members Of My Morning Jacket, Previews New Album and Tour at Intimate New York Show" Billboard.com - March 3, 2016
  28. ↑ "My Morning Jacket confirm plans for two new albums". Consequenceofsound.net. Retrieved May 5, 2015.
  29. ↑ "Soundtracks for The Lookout" IMDb
  30. ↑ "Soundtracks for Elizabethtown" IMDb
  31. ↑ "Soundtracks for I'm Not There" IMDb
  32. ↑ "Soundtracks for Stick It" IMDb
  33. ↑ "Full cast and crew for Before the Music Dies" IMDb
  34. ↑ "Soundtracks for He's Just Not That Into You" IMDb
  35. ↑ "Soundtracks for Winter Passing" IMDb
  36. ↑ Graff, Gary "Love for Levon Concert Gets March Release on CD/DVD, Will Air on TV" Billboard - February 5, 2103
  37. ↑ "Music From How I Met Your Mother > Season 6 > False Positive - Songs Tunefind.com
  38. ↑ "VH1 Storytellers Set To Return With Episodes Featuring Kings Of Leon, Cee Lo, Death Cab For Cutie And More" VH1 - February 16, 2011
  39. ↑ "Music From House > Season 7 > After Hours - Songs" Tunefind
  40. ↑ "My Morning Jacket Release New Song "The First Time" Off "Roadies" Soundtrack: Listen". Pitchfork. Retrieved September 19, 2016.
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