Tribute To - EP

iTunes Review

Why waste time thinking up noms de guerre when you can just add change a J to a Y? Moved to say something upon the death of George Harrison, My Morning Jacket frontman Jim James recorded these six Harrison tunes, four from Harrison’s masterwork, All Things Must Pass, in 2001. Making liberal use of a ghost-like echo on the vocal tracks, James’ heartfelt tribute is spare and somber, mostly just voice and acoustic guitar although James does successfully add a banjo to “Love You To.” The most famous tune here, “My Sweet Lord,” is a near-religious experience, kind of a hosanna plea with James' tenor becoming particularly grief-infused and piercing in the later verses. “Ballad of Sir Frankie Crisp (Let It Fall),” written by Harrison about the former owner of the house that he eventually purchased, also has a marvelous effect as James extols Harrison in the ringing, almost sanctified high range of his voice, honoring his spirit as much as his music. James at his most ethereal.