Chapter 1 The Sandworm Cometh: Early Recordings

This initial collection of My Morning Jacket rarities features the Kentucky band's early recordings. Covering the years 1997 to 1999, CHAPTER 1: THE SANDWORM COMETH finds Jim James and company easing into their twangy rock style. Certain songs, particularly the mid-tempo opener "Weeks Go By Like Days," sound like they could have fit seamlessly onto the group's impressive debut, THE TENNESSEE FIRE, while less-accessible lo-fi experiments (the a cappella "Time Never Gets," the drone-filled "Josta Dreams and Bitter Hands") make for strangely fascinating detours. The band sneaks a gentle reading of Santo & Johnny's "Sleep Walk" into a live version of the similarly dreamy "Old September Blues," a track completely contrasted by the noisy, minimalist rendition of Jefferson Airplane's "White Rabbit." The finest cover tune on the compilation, however, is Elton John's "Rocket Man." Here, James's emotive, echo-laden voice creates an appropriately floating vibe that ends the compilation on a wonderfully sleepy, atmospheric note.