Jim James has announced the forthcoming release of Uniform Clarity, a new companion piece to his 2018 solo album, Uniform Distortion.
The new LP, which includes acoustic versions of the songs originally from Uniform Distortion, along with two new tracks, arrives on Friday, Oct. 5 via ATO. Preorders are available here.
“The idea for Uniform Clarity came from Uniform Distortion, an album of intentional chaos/dirt: literal and figurative distortion of lyrics and sound meant to echo and hopefully shed some light on the twisted times and distortion of the truth in which we now live,” James explains. “Uniform Clarity is meant to illuminate the other side—raw and real, but very clear, much like in the early days of recording where all you could hear was the truth because there were no ways to manipulate recordings in the studio.”
Uniform Clarity was recorded with Grammy Award-winning producer/engineer Shawn Everett (Alabama Shakes, The War On Drugs).
“Working with Shawn Everett, we created a document style recording of these songs—just vocals, guitar and the space itself—no special FX,” James notes. “A crystal clear illustration of the flawed beauty of what a song starts off as or sometimes remains—a thought. A seed. A light from the womb of the universe brought to life down here on earth.”
The full tracklist and album art can be found down below.
Later this evening, James will host a live event on YouTube called “Jim James Presents Uniform Clarity: In Conversation & Performance.” Viewers will have access to special performances and discussions about the forthcoming release and his larger body of work. James will also be talking about his belief in the importance of voting and his hopes for Election Day. The broadcast will come to an end with a live performance and Q+A session, which will be streamed from San Francisco at 8 p.m. ET and can be found below.
James will also set out on a solo acoustic tour, beginning Nov. 1 in California, taking him across the U.S. and culminating on Nov. 21 in Kentucky. Audiences will be able to see the My Morning Jacket frontman, accompanied by longtime drummer David Givan, perform a career-encompassing setlist, including many songs from his two most recent LPs. The full list of tour dates can be found below.
Uniform Distortion is available now. Uniform Clarity arrives via ATO on Friday, Oct. 5.
Listen to James’ two new singles off the LP, “You Get to Rome” and “Over and Over.” You can also check out Paste’s 2013 interview with James and listen to him, Will Johnson, Jay Farrar and Anders Parker perform tracks off their Woody Guthrie tribute album New Multitudes for Daytrotter.
Jim James Presents Uniform Clarity: In Conversation & Performance Live Stream:
Uniform Clarity Tracklist: 01. Just A Fool 02. You Get To Rome 03. Out Of Time 04. Throwback 05. No Secrets 06. Yes To Everything 07. No Use Waiting 08. All In Your Head 09. Better Late Than Never 10. Over and Over 11. Too Good To Be True 12. It Will Work Out 13. Flash in The Pan
Uniform Clarity Album Art:
Jim James Tour Dates:
September 16 – Los Angeles, Calif. @ Theatre at Ace Hotel
November 01 – Solana Beach, Calif. @ Belly Up Tavern 02 – Los Angeles, Calif. @ Cathedral Sanctuary 03 – Oakland, Calif. @ Fox Theatre 05 – Salt Lake City, Utah @ The Commonwealth Room 06 – Denver, Colo. @ Paramount Theatre 08 – Milwaukee, Wis. @ The Pabst Theater 09 – Chicago, Ill. @ The Vic 10 – Cleveland, Ohio @ The Agora Theatre 13 – New York, N.Y. @ Town Hall 14 – Port Chester, N.Y. @ Capitol Theatre 16 – Boston, Mass. @ Shubert Theatre 17 – Washington, D.C. @ Lincoln Theatre 19 – Atlanta, Ga. @ The Tabernacle 20 – Nashville, Tenn. @ Schermerhorn Symphony Center 21 – Louisville, Ky. @ The Louisville Palace