Voice of God

The voice is perhaps the most underrated instrument in all of rock music. Look through any bookstore and you'll notice: 4-5 guitar magazines, a couple bass mags, a few drum books, but typically zero vocal magazines.

Why?

My only reasoning is that people feel as they can change the way they play an instrument, but cannot change the way they sing. The voice is naturally formed and virtually unchangable, the only change being from the wear and tear of age. I don't know how old Jim James (of My Morning Jacket) is, but there is absolutely no sign of any maturing, just the golden vocal chords of God Himself.

On record, I've always been attracted to James' voice. Through numerous EPs (Chocolate & Ice, Split w/ Songs: Ohia) and a couple albums (At Dawn, It Still Moves--I don't have the Tennessee Fire) I've enjoyed a whiskey-sweet, floating voice capable of a mood I've never heard before. His voice is one that can fill enormous spaces and still be soft. It can fit perfectly into every song, but stand out at the same time. It is a voice that (for me) stands for the lush South on the brink of fall, that feeling of disappointment of another summer gone but simulateous excitement. James' voice is the only one I've ever heard capable of sadness and uplift at the same time in the same word.

While the records are great, James' voice is even better live. Now, I've never seen them, but their new record, Acoustic Citsuoca, captures the greatest possible picture of the band ever. Nothing but acoutic guitars, minimal backing and that golden voice. As the EP winds through backing gets more sparse leaving more room for James to sing. Even when he hits a sour note, it's not because of his voice, but his body that seems like it's unable to keep up with his voice. A voice frozen in time and perfect.