My Morning Jacket Album: “My Morning Jacket Does Xmas Fiasco Style”

One of the better Christmas albums I've heard. A certain Christmas feel permeates the album but it's not the cheesy traditional Christmas songs that you've heard way too many times. My Morning Jacket contributes their own tunes to this one and we are rewarded for it. They craft multi-layered, structured songs with lots of vocal harmonies. There are two gems on this one (not surprising for this band). They are "Xmas Time Is Here Again," and "I Just Wanted To Say." There is some nice harmonizing and Beach Boys-like vocals on the former. And the bonus track is something that if you've heard their first two albums, won't surprise you very much. It's a novel instrumental with three separate guitar melodies playing simultaneously, which pleases and challenges the listener at the same time. The Nick Cave cover is very well done. The Elvis cover "Santa Claus Is Back In Town" is decent but somewhat disappointing. They should've kept the same magical, mysterious, lonesome, country-ish, mood as on the shining standout "I Just Wanted To Say." It's a bit sad and lonesome sounding, but nevertheless magical and full of wonder just as Christmas time often is. Buy this if you're tired of the same old tired Christmas songs that everyone has heard a million times. Buy this if you like something different.

i'm not sure what the reviewer before me was expecting, but i do love this album. my morning jacket, it's true, they are "alt-country" (if that's what you want to call it). i'm no *real* reviewer, but i do know how to spot a band with staying power, and they have it.

this is a wonderful holiday ep, gorgeous music that makes you want to cuddle up with a blanket and stare at the blinking lights on the christmas tree with not another light on in the house.

beautiful. and highly recommended.

Warning: This album will put you in the Christmas spirit...it might even inspire you to bake gingerbread cookies for your neighbor or something. Most of this album is pretty cheesy and it made me laugh, but maybe that's just because I am not a fan of country-influenced tunes, exactly what this album IS--Most songs are quite "twangy." My Morning Jacket reminds me of Neil Young but they have some harmonies like the Beach Boys. Track one, "Xmas Curtain," was my favorite, and it was definitely the most "Beach Boys-ish." Track four is a cover of Nick Cave's "New Morning," and Track five is a cover of Elvis Presley's "Santa Claus is Back in Town." The Elvis cover is really funny, it made me laugh, and it's heavily blues-influenced. I do have to say that judging from the cd cover, these boys look like a riot to hang out with!