Pitchfork

Back in 1992-- before he helped found the post-millennial rock powerhouse known as My Morning Jacket-- a high school-aged Jim James was in a band called Mont de Sundua (formerly known as Month of Sundays). The Louisville trio featured future Insects members Ben Blandford on bass and Dave Givan on drums.

They released an album and an EP before disbanding, but not before recording another album's worth of material that will finally see release.

The belated self-titled sophomore album was originally recorded in 1998 with help from former MMJ member Johnny Quaid. It is due out May 22 via James' own Removador label, and it will be available in record stores across the U.S.

James and Givan will celebrate the record's release three days early on May 19 with a release party at Louisville's Mainstreet Lounge, where they will DJ "classic soul and funk jams," according to MMJ's website. The album will also be available for purchase at the party.

Thanks to reader Hank Seltzer for the tip.

In related news, for what seems like the first time in their existence as a band, My Morning Jacket have only a pair of full-band dates scheduled for this summer, none of which include Bonnaroo.

At their Lollapalooza appearance, MMJ will reprise their orchestral incarnation by performing with the Chicago Youth Symphony Orchestra, with whom they played a Chicago date in November of last year.

James gave the highest of Emeril Lagasse-like praise to the orchestra in a press release, saying, "The Chicago Youth Symphony Orchestra! It is hard to even think of them as 'youth.' Their playing is so 'grown-up' and professional. They hit with diamond-like precision. Pow! I have enjoyed performing with them and look forward to doing it again, Lollapalooza-style! BAM!"

Mont de Sundua tracklist:

01 Space Beast
02 One Salty Kiss
03 Skipping Song
04 Women (The Kind We Like)
05 Two Shotguns
06 Wanna See My Bruise Again?
07 Boots Bar
08 Ride It
09 Dynomite Explosion
10 64 East

MMJ Dates:

05-19 Louisville, KY - Mainstreet Lounge (Jim James/Dave Givan DJ sets)
06-03 Louisville, KY - The Rudyard Kipling (Jim James solo show)
08-05 Chicago, IL - Grant Park (Lollapalooza) *
09-14-16 Austin, TX - Austin City Limits Festival

* with Chicago Youth Symphony Orchestra