MMJ(esus)
I have a fascination with My Morning Jacket. And it seems the front man Jim James has a fascination with Jesus. Which would mean we’d hit it off. As far as dropping JC bombs, he doesn’t make it too explicit, but poetically, it’s hard to miss. This, along with the ambient rock/classic country with steel guitar/jam band (think Phish or String Cheese Incident) and all kinds of other lesser influences, and you’ve got a recipe for enthralling, wonder-evoking music
Helen the Lovely treated me to my first MMJ concert back in March in Houston before the stop off at SXSW. It rawked. They played stuff from their now 1-week-old album Evil Urges, and I knew it would be brilliant. It is. MMJ goes in some mature and still experimental directions. Barrels of fun with that classic Jackets wild jamband sound.
Below are the lyrics to the messianic “Look at You.” I don’t get much of a worship buzz these days, but this song evoked a deep sense of worship within me. Listen to it here (song 11) and you can download a most righteous live recording of M. Ward with Jim James live at St. David’s Church just a few blocks from the madness of SXSW. Beautiful stuff.
look at you, you
such a fine citizenlook at you, you
such a glowing example
of peace and glory, glory, glory
of peace and glory, glory, glory
let me follow youwe believe in your power to lead
without fear
not above in some tower
but here, right down here
with us in this worldlook at you, you
everywhere at once
you
such a glowing example
of peace and glory, glory, gloryof peace and glory, glory, glory
let me follow you
And here’s a vid of Evil Urges, the title track. Helen and I were maybe 12 feet from where this guy was standing…
Filed under: music |
Tags: Jesus, Jim James, MMJ, worship
I just picked up this album today!!!!!
Not to burst you bubble, but Jim James — per this interview — isn’t a religious guy.
“Cause I can’t figure out the whole religion thing. People listening to gospel music or stuff like that; people who are involved in religion, kind of fascinates me, because I don’t get it myself. I don’t see how people can commit to believing in this guy called Jesus, or any faith really. It’s just baffling to me. I believe in god or spirit or whatever, but I just don’t know what to call it. Or know whether it’s any one thing.”
http://beardedmagazine.co.uk/wp/?p=220
I had thought so as well and did some research to find out more.
Hey Bear, thanks for pointing out the article. Interesting interview. But no bubble burst here. I never claimed James was a religious guy. I know well of James’ ambivalence with religion and ambiguity in defining himself with such categories. But I’m still convinced he’s fascinated with Jesus.
Consider this snippet from Steam Engine:
to anyone who wondered
what old Jesus meant to me…
the fact that my heart’s beating
is all the proof you need
Most lyric sites translate the above name as “Jebus” but on the track James clearly says “Jesus.” Is Jebus even a real name?
And consider the following lyrics from What a Wonderful Man:
He was leading us through the dark
He was saying that love goes on…
I never knew for sure what a wonderful man he was
what a sensible man he was
Big Devil Told Us To Sing Along.
And Like A Loving Flock We Obey - Except 4 Him
- He Went His Own Way.
I Never Knew For Sure
- What A Wonderful Man He Was.
Till The Day I Found Out His Cause
- Was To Do It For All Of Us.
I think it’s pretty clear who James is writing/singing about here. He may only do concerts in churches, but he’s apparently fascinated with this Jesus. That’s all I’m saying. I’ve no doubt the picture that James has of modern Christianity is baffling to him in all of its inconsistencies. For the most part, it’s baffling to me as well. My own faith baffles me in its inconsistencies. But what I cannot deny is that he’s hung up with this Jesus person.
I think I read somewhere that Jim James said “What a Wonderful Man” is about a friend of his who committed suicide. Though I agree — it definitely seems to be about Jesus, whatever Jim says.
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