My Morning Jacket + Yim Yames

I have a soft spot for acapella music and an even softer spot for My Morning Jacket. My favorite band of my lifetime, there is nothing sweeter and more honest than Jim James' voice and lyrics. Found this lil ditty on the net...


Also in MMJ related news...Yim Yames (his yalter yeego), has begun releasing (for FREE!) tracks off his Tribute To George Harrison EP. The entire album (all 6 songs of it) is available for stream here, and will be released for sale in its entirety on August 4. Yim recorded the album a few days after Harrison died in 2001. After listening to the EP about five times, it left me wanting much much more. James did the whole thing himself, on vocals and acoustic guitar. In the liner notes, James calls Harrison "a prime example of the healing power of music."

A portion of the album's proceeds will benefit Woodstock Farm Animal Sanctuary. Get all the details here.

Tribute Tracklist:
Long Long Long
Behind That Locked Door (Get it free)
Love You To
My Sweet Lord
Ballad of Sir Frankie Crisp (Let It Roll)
All Things Must Pass

This album comes as a lead-up to the long-awaited self-titled album release (Sept. 22nd) from Monsters of Folk, Jim James's supergroup that also features Conor Oberst, M. Ward, and Mike Mogis. Apparently the sessions were haunted by ghosts. The Shangri-La studios were once a bordello. Jim James told NME, "You can feel some of the scary, sad ghosts of the brothel. M [Ward] actually saw one. He was freaked out, he didn't want to be in that room for a while. You feel a lot of ghosts there but most of them feel pretty friendly."

For a free download of "Say Please" just say "p-l-e-a-s-e" (go to website and type it in)

Eels

Another album I'm cray cray about this summer is Hombre Lobo (Wolfman for those of you who no habla espanol): Twelve Songs About Desire by Eels

Not set to tour any time soon, you can stream the album in its entirity on MySpace

This is the song that did it for me....
Eels - Fresh Blood
Eels - Tremendous Dynamite

I like this video, "In My Dreams"

Here We Go Magic

this song is incredibly awesome. their band name rocks too.

Here We Go Magic - Fangela

kiddos heading to ACL this year be sure to check em out. their bio says all you need to know:

"We like the way the name sounds so we set it to music. Our own Luke made a beautiful record and we joined him to make something together. We are creating songs from melodies that can turn from gorgeous to challenging to a little scary and back again. Sounds are driven and shaped by, but hopefully never grounded by, rhythms that entrance before performing a somersault. It all seems silly on paper, but there are no dirty words: groovy, psychedelic, pretty etc... are all fair game. It is our hope that we generate something generous and surprising, crafted but instinctive, even as it coalesces. So far it is a lovely ruckus."

White Rabbits

The White Rabbits, from Brooklyn via Missouri, are one of the standout bands for me this summer. Their debut LP, Fort Nightly (2007), and new album It's Frightening (2009) have been on repeat the past few days. With a bit more pressure on their sophomore release they hired none other than Britt Daniel (Spoon) to produce. The band's early success has been fueled by a dynamic, high-energy, live show - which I haven't been fortunate enough to see, but will some day.

The Rabbits formed at the University of Missouri in 2004. Their distinctive sound is created by a combination of piano, percussion (two drummers) and bright, clever lyrics. Give them a listen.

White Rabbits - Percussion Gun
White Rabbits - The Plot (Live on MOKB)
White Rabbits - While We Go Dancing (Live on MOKB)

If you'd like to read an interview about White Rabbit's collaboration with Daniels and more, go ahead and click here.