Yim Yames — Tribute To

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ATO/MapleMusic

Aaron Brophy (CHARTattack)

09/25/2009 2:47pm

My Morning Jacket lead singer Jim James' tribute to late Beatle George Harrison as Yim Yames is a clear success for a few reasons.

The first is the absolute earnestness in which he approaches these Harrison songs. James doesn't try to reinvent these classics as so many Beatles cover song manglers do, instead simply stripping down Harrison's works to the most basic elements of a voice and a guitar.

There's a mystique that inhabits these recordings, too. James recorded these songs only a few days after Harrison's death in 2001, and his somber vocal delivery is almost hypnotic, inhabiting the songs with not only a sense of sadness and mourning, but also of honour as well as a studied appreciation of Harrison's work.

Harrison fans will obviously gravitate to "My Sweet Lord." Slowed down and drawling, it's a vital new take on a favourite. Far better though is the sparse reimagining of Revolver hippie anthem "Love To You." Stripped of the original's sitars and mind-melting psychedelic backdrop the core of the song's message shines through with greater potency.

"All Things Must Pass" is the obvious, though fitting, conclusion and by the time James finishes straining his way through it, it's perfectly clear that this may be one of the most genuine, perfect tributes to Harrison's legacy.

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