Maybe it's the soil in Kentucky that has made My Morning Jacket's mix of rootsy flavours, edgy alt-rock and swirling psychedelic touches flourish. They were cult heroes for their first few albums—until 2005's Z brought them into the light with the hazy reverb of tracks such as "Gideon" and the skulking keyboards of "Off the Record". Opening up their sound to include everything from electronic atmospheres to dub and R&B influences, MMJ have been hailed as representatives of a new era of Southern rock, with frontman Jim James' mix of earthy and otherworldly vibes leading the charge.