At Dawn

This is the album that got me into this band. I like the newer MMJ, but this is and always be a classic album. The folksy rock everyone seems to dislike is something I like about the style of the older MMJ songs. Their live albums are great. When you can make a song like Cobra carry on for 25 minutes, without boring or annoying people, you're doing something right. I hope to see them live one day.

Now that Jim James has ditched the reverb the band has left me at Z but I'll forever visit this classic when I wanna hear the trippy sound of the band that rearranged my musical taste buds. From the hypnotic beginner At Dawn, to the haunting close of Strangulation and all the beauty in between this album is clearly taken to the island with me with the other 9 that includes Radiohead's Ok Computer, Tool's Aenima, Jason Isbell's Southeastern etc. You know the island your stranded on and you can only take ten albums with you???

All you need to know is this is the best cd from one of the best bands around today.

Personally my favorite MMJ album from start to finish, deep stuff indeed..

Not a slouch on this one....undoubtedly their finest work, no where to go from here but down, but what a treat...ear candy for sure! My Top 5 in order, The way that he sings, Hopefully, Lowdown, Bermuda highway, At dawn...phone went west after....if you are looking for another great campfire album, this and their first are 2 good ones....I am an MMJ fan but I LOVE the old stuff compared to the later so it depends on what you like.

[5/25/2011] - If you're just getting into MMJ, Im sorry its taken this long(first of all), but this may not be the album that grasps your ears in terms of recording and quality. If you're a huge fan of MMJ, like myself, then all of their albums are appreciated in different ways. "At Dawn" is an amazing album. Much like "Tennessee Fire", it tends to be on the more melancholy side of their catalogue. Jim James vocals, acoustic guitars, slowed down tempos (minus a few songs), the MMJ creativity and songwriting, as well as the infamous MMJ reverb are displayed beautifully on this album. From the beginning of the title track, listeners become hooked by the haunting sounds and sometimes eerie personality of this album. True MMJ fans will testify that "At Dawn" is best appreciated listening to it in a relaxed environment, away from a big crowd, with a few glasses of wine or your favorite beverage and around sunset or at dawn(after an all-night bender), as the members suggest in the title. In this setting, the listener will truly be able to contemplate the depth of the lyrics as Jim James talks about love, death and the trials of growing up. Through songs like "Hopefully", "If It Smashes Down" and "I Needed It Most" you get a sense of James' personal struggles with his own attempts at love and drug use. As a whole its not entirely slow-tempoed. Songs like "Lowdown", "Way That He Sings", "Xmas Curtain", and the almost reggae feel of "Phone Went West" help to give the listener a vision of where this band was heading leading up to MMJ's more mainstream albums "It Still Moves" and "Z". Once you have officially become hooked on MMJ, you will listen back to all of their albums and can quickly hear their progression as a band in all aspects. All MMJ albums are best to be listened to for the first time in their entirety and just like a live MMJ show, each album is a rollercoaster of emotions that will have the listener wanting more. "At Dawn" is no different in this regard. This album is a staple for all hardcore MMJ fans.

I am a newcomer to the wonderful world of MMJ, and what an amazing world it is! At Dawn is the strongest record of the entire MMJ discography, imo. The melodies are consistently strong and creatively crafted throughout, and the lyrics alng with the echoing, lingering voice that Jim James injects into the songs is just soul touching. It's a familiar sound, but original and natural enough, especially with Jame's voice, that it is like nothing else. I have made my way through all of the albums, and "Lowdown" remains my #1 MMJ song to date, and many others like "Death Is My Sleazy Pay", and "Bermuda Highway" are close behind. The Album creates an atmosphere unlike any other, and keeps it alive, unlike "It Still Moves", which I found lost me about halfway through. This is a great place to start if you are new to MMJ! Get it, then get the others!

My Morning Jacket...wow...what can I say? They are AMAZING. Some people look at their older albums (this one and their first, Tennessee Fire) and they think "booooring...slow folky...blah" but no you guys are so wrong. Jim James is one of the greatest singers of all time and unlike on "Evil Urges", on "At Dawn" his voice is what shines. The song writing is beautiful. I mean you hit the 1:30 mark on the song "At Dawn" and BOOM there it is. "Lowdown" and "The Way That He Sings" are also great. But really my two favorite songs on this album are "Bermuda Highway" which is just...just...I can't explain it...ghostly...it sends me shivers and of course "Xmas Curtain" which is a very happy song to go along with a very cheerful and upbeat album. This is My Morning Jacket's second or third best album in my opinion (Behind Z but possibly in front of Evil urges) and you MUST CHECK IT OUT. Wow.

absolute pure bliss... the silo induced reverb is indescribable. I truly envy those that are awaiting hearing this album for the first time! Honestly there are a multitude of sound collages and differing styles to make this album extremely interesting. Do not miss the 1-2 punch to close the album of Phone Went West & Strangulation...classic MMJ & not to be missed

I don't know what else needs to be said. This album is perfect. Jim James is one of the most underrated voices in music today, and this album is proof.