#457 – Z, ‘My Morning Jacket’

My Morning Jacket (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Released: 4 October, 2005
Label: ATO
Genre: Psychedelic rock, art rock, indie rock
Producer: John Leckie, Jim James

Well. If the last album was a surprise, then My Morning Jacket is, well, it’s whatever the superlative of surprise is. I’m amazed. I hadn’t heard of Z prior to this, except for recently in an episode of American Dad…

But straight away I loved this album. For one thing, it’s modern, which is something to note in going through this list (just sayin’). This is seriously beautiful music – futuristic and soaring. It’s rock and roll, but it’s interstellar. Kind of like what I expect Pink Floyd or Brian Eno to be like. A brilliant combination of styles and genres and it shoots straight to amongst the best that I’ve heard from this list.

Top tracks: The whole thing, but the more moody “Wordless Chorus” and “Gideon” rise above as the standouts. 

This week: This week I started in Melbourne and ended back home in Perth. I haven’t been back to Perth properly in over 15 months so I was really excited to see what was happening, and she sure didn’t disappoint. Big sky and roads and space and sun abound, there’s a lot more happening in the city and there’s more of a cultural heart beginning to beat. And low and behold, the big move back is well and truly back on the cards. Well, less back on the cards and more those cards have been dealt. Now it’s a matter of when (and where – we’re looking to buy Andy’s Sister’s apartment). So then comes matters of timing and jobs and packing in everything we want to do in Melbourne while we can. 2014 is going to be big.

On a side note, I have some seriously awesome and fun and special friends. We’ve grown up so much since I moved away, but when I’m with them it’s like we’ve never been apart. For that I’m really grateful.

#485 – Pearl Jam, ‘Vitalogy’

Vitalogy (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Released: November 22, 1994
Label: Epic
Genre: Grunge, experimental rock, art rock
Producer: Brendan O’Brien, Pearl Jam

Obviously I know Pearl Jam, though only from whatever I’ve heard on the radio through the 90’s. And I know that there’s a whole lot of legend around the band and around Eddie Vedder, and their influence on grunge and music in general is massive.

By all accounts this album was huge at the time and must be much loved, but for me it was pretty hard work. There’s darkness in here and not a lot of light (grunge I guess), which is possibly why “Better Man” is my favourite: it’s arguably the most upbeat track, even if it is about domestic violence. It’s alternative for sure, seething with weird noises and experimental samples (psychiatric patients talking, anyone?), and you know there’s a grand-ness to it when you listen, because it’s, well it’s Pearl Jam… but for me, this seemed a bit overblown and alternative to the point of inaccessible.

Overall, too dark and too sad. I need a bit more light than this (at least, right now I do).

Top track: “Better Man”. It’s an almost perfect pop-rock song, and takes me back to my school days. Pearl Jam knocked back the track from their previous album because it was too accessible. “Nothingman” is nice too, more chilled out.

This week: Short working week what with Easter and all which couldn’t come at a better time for Andy and me, and we headed to Hobart for the long weekend. A lot of eating and drinking, riding around the harbour, and a whole day spent at MONA – one of the most interesting experiences of my life. Amazing weekend.