My Morning Jacket Z (20th Anniversary Deluxe Edition) 3LP (Pink, Coral & Blue Vinyl)

Often referred to as My Morning Jacket's OK Computer and considered one of the 500 greatest albums of all time by Rolling Stone (2012 edition), Z was the pinnacle of the band's early career upon its release in 2005 and has gone on to sell nearly half a million copies.

Z earned worldwide critical applause for its ambitious fusion of sonic approaches, musical styles, and expressive songcraft. Co-produced with legendary British producer John Leckie — known for his work with XTC, The Stone Roses, and Radiohead, among many others — Z marked the band's fourth studio album and first to feature its current, enduring lineup of singer-guitarist-songwriter Jim James, keyboard player Bo Koster, guitarist Carl Broemel, bassist Tom Blankenship, and drummer Patrick Hallahan. From the radiant "Wordless Chorus" and big-riff crunch of "Gideon" to the astral-funk spinout, "Off the Record," and improvisational thunder of "Dondante," the album proved My Morning Jacket's breakthrough, employing such surprising influences as dub, reggae, and electronica to create an awe-inspiring collection that wasn't simply rock 'n' roll, yet in James' words, "moved you like rock 'n' roll."

The 20th Anniversary Deluxe Edition of Z was remastered from original tapes by Emily Lazar and includes 14 key outtakes from singles and film work, previously unreleased material, demos, and more, including the new single, "Where to Begin." Written especially for Cameron Crowe's 2005 film Elizabethtown — set in Kentucky and partially shot in MMJ's hometown of Louisville — "Where to Begin" was among the first songs recorded by the band with then-new members keyboard player Bo Koster and guitarist Carl Broemel, the latter on stone-country pedal steel guitar.

"That was one of the coolest things," says James, "that Carl could play pedal steel. We'd never had that before."

Z is intuitive, intensely creative, classicist-minded, nearly flawless.

Z is nothing less than a masterpiece.