Yim Yames - Tribute To

There is a haunting melancholy that permeates the entirety of ‘Tribute To’, most likely due to the fact that Yim Yames (Jim James from My Morning Jacket) recorded these songs shortly after the death of George Harrison in 2001. But the songs themselves (four solo Harrison works from ‘All Things Must Pass’, as well as two Beatles numbers) are also fragile and morose, especially when they are as stripped down as James’ stark, spare arrangements are here. The focus of the EP is placed squarely on James’ plaintive vocals and muted guitar, and the underlying sense of loss and reverence that penetrates each of the songs.

The record starts out with the ‘White Album’ cut ‘Long, Long Long’, which, after a bit of a plodding start, really takes off during the chorus, with James’ vocals ringing out passionately as the emotion of the song truly takes hold and he makes the track entirely his own. ‘Behind That Locked Door’ finds James’ vocals soaked in reverb and emotion, accompanied only by the simple strumming of both acoustic and electric guitars. It’s a touching song, but is a bit too sleepy and plain, and too similar to the original to distinguish itself from the other great covers found on this EP.

‘Love To You’, on the other hand, is gorgeous and powerful, and when completely stripped of ‘Revolver’’s over-the-top psychedelia, the tender love song from Harrison to all of humanity that is at the heart of the track is finally able to shine through. And James’ howling, heart-rending screams at the end of the song are filled with the ache of both loss and admiration. ‘My Sweet Lord’ is a comforting, forlorn performance that is filled with the serenity that Harrison is being well looked after in the afterlife. ‘Ballad Of Sir Frankie Crisp (Let It Roll)’ is probably the most upbeat number on this short EP, and also benefits from the best production on the album, with the acoustic guitar blending well with the austere piano work, and James’ exalted voice lifting the song skywards. But the real highlight of ‘Tribute To’ is ‘All Things Must Pass’, which is both a thank you and a good bye from James to an artist that he obviously holds in the highest regard. It’s a beautiful, poignant cover that really brings the sentiment of the project together and also clearly exemplifies how talented a songwriter Harrison was. James certainly is able to put a good part of himself into these songs, which is why the project ultimately succeeds, but the spotlight is placed squarely on the talents of the ‘Quiet Beatle’, who, even after all these years, is still missed dearly.