My Morning Jacket’s Jim James Turned Old Film Scores Into His First Solo Album in Eight Years
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- Jim James is releasing "Wowed Out" on Aug. 28 via ATO Records, his first solo album in eight years following the 2018 pair "Uniform Distortion" and "Uniform Clarity."
- "Wowed Out" is built from music James originally composed for two film projects in the early 2010s with composer Brian Reitzell, best known for his work with Sofia Coppola; James said he had been revisiting the material for years but "couldn't figure out what to do with it" until last year.
- Lead single "Come Again" originated from a cue James composed for a scene set in a teddy bear factory; James said it reflects trying "to find joy" amid discouragement about the direction of the world.
- My Morning Jacket stayed active during James's solo drought, releasing "Is" in 2024 and the new collection "Peacelands" — acoustic covers and original protest songs with all proceeds going to charity.
- James will perform at a Wes Anderson film music celebration at the Hollywood Bowl on July 10–12 alongside Beck, Jackson Browne, Spoon's Britt Daniel, and Bill Murray.
- A solo acoustic performance at the Song Summit in Park City, Utah, is scheduled for Aug. 28, the same day "Wowed Out" drops.
Why it matters: James went eight years without solo output while My Morning Jacket stayed steadily active, and he broke the drought not with fresh material but by finally finishing film scores he couldn't crack a decade ago. The Aug. 28 release paired with a July 10–12 Hollywood Bowl run and a same-day Park City solo show marks his most concentrated solo promotional push since 2018.
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