Tribute To: A Review

From the desk of Ned P. Rauch:

This small record, Tribute To, is phenomenally gorgeous. Yim Yames, known more often as Jim James, guitarist and lead singer of My Morning Jacket, covers six George Harrison songs—and pulls it off. (Give a listen here.) Aside from when he came up with "Taxman," Harrison always wrote with an eye toward God. Channeled through Yim Jim's reverbed voice and spare guitar work, these songs become somehow even more celestial. The first cut, "Long, Long, Long," could make a rock grow some knees, get down on them and pray. That song, incidentally, has always been my favorite tune from the White Album. It's Harrison's least-noticed Beatles song, and it's one of his—and their—best. These are daunting songs to cover. "All Things Must Pass" and "My Sweet Lord" are beloved by entire continents. Yames James handles them with care, yes, but also a sense of calm that quiets the noise around anything a Beatle ever made, said or sang. Beautiful work.