Here are our top 10 EP’s of 2009.

1.) Warpaint – Exquisite Corpse (Buy)

Label: Manimal Vinyl
Warpaint – Stars

2.) The Middle East – The Recordings of the Middle East (Buy)

Label: Spunk Aus/Zoom
The Middle East – Blood

3.) Ben Nichols – The Last Pale Light In The West (Buy)

Label: Rebel Group
Ben Nichols – Tobin

Jim James and Mike Barker – Image Rollo & Grady

In several hours My Morning Jacket will make their prime-time television debut on American Dad. I recently caught up with the show’s co-creator Mike Barker, who penned the episode titled “My Morning Straitjacket,” to discuss his inspiration for writing the script.

R&G: How did you first discover My Morning Jacket?

MB: One of my writers, Matt Fusfeld, turned me onto them. He played “Bermuda Highway” for me in the office one day and I was instantly transfixed.

R&G: Tell me about your experience at Bonnaroo 2008?

MB: At Bonnaroo, I’m watching these guys create this lush, intense sound as the rain is washing over them… and as the sheet of rain attacks the stage, the raindrops are being illuminated by the multi-colored stage lights, and it was just… biblical. (note: Mike was not on mushrooms or acid). And it was one of those moments — and by moment I don’t mean during a certain chorus or something, I mean the ENTIRE time the guys are playing — it was one of those moments where everyone in attendance realized they were witnessing something really special. No one’s worried about getting wet, or getting their shoes muddy, or needing to sit down after standing shoulder to shoulder with wet strangers for four straight hours. And I actually remember having the thought, “If lightening strikes these guys dead, there’s not a thing tragic about that.” Seriously, can you tell me a better way for a musician to go? Because I can’t think of it.

But during the show, I start to become aware of how intensely I loved this music, and by extension, these guys for playing it. And I thought to myself, “What if I try to SHARE this experience through the characters in American Dad? Is it possible to translate how much I love this music to a large portion of American Dad’s audience that presently has no idea that this band even exits?” That would be my way of giving back, I suppose. My Morning Jacket is one of the greatest bands of all time, so why wouldn’t I try to share that fact?

The Oscillation – Liquid Memoryman
Nightmares On Wax – Da Mess Sticks
K.I.A. – Scatter (downtempo)

MP3: Phish – California Love Jam (2Pac Cover)

Cookin On 3 Burners (Myspace)

Hometown: Melbourne, Victoria Australia
Album: Baked – Broiled And Fried (Buy)
Label: Freestyle
Cookin On 3 Burners – Cressy St Breakdown

The Apples (Myspace)

Hometown: Tel Aviv and New York
Album: Buzzin’ About (Buy)
Label: Freestyle
The Apples – Debil’s Dream

The Poets Of Rhythm (Myspace)

Hometown: Germany
Album: What Goes ‘Round (Buy)
Label: Various
The Poets Of Rhythm – Strokin’ the Grits

According to a source with knowledge of the festival’s plans, Muse will be one of the headliners for Coachella 2010, set to take place from April 16-18 in Indio. A separate source confirms that both The xx and Hot Chip will join Devo, Miike Snow, Craze & Klever, and As Tall As Lions, all of which have been previously confirmed by other Internet outlets. Other rumored artists include, Pavement, The Avett Brothers, Phoenix and The Stooges.

Sambassadeur – Kate
Air France – No Way Down
Beach House – Used to Be

Image Courtesy of Fox

On September 22nd, 2008, Jim James, Tom “Two-Tone Tommy” Blankenship, Patrick Hallahan, Carl Broemel, and Bo Koster of My Morning Jacket read and recorded voice-overs for American Dad, the Fox Network animated series. I was invited to sit in by the show’s co-creator Mike Barker, who wrote the episode. His inspiration for writing the script came from watching the epic show MMJ played at Bonnaroo 2008, in which the band played a four-hour set in the rain, finishing at 4 AM.

Image Courtesy of Fox

I screened the episode earlier this week: It’s hilarious and hands-down the best use of a band in a televised series that I’ve ever seen – animated or not. In the episode, entitled “My Morning Straitjacket,” Stan Smith becomes a MMJ groupie obsessed with Jim James and goes on a quest to meet his idol. Actor Zach Galifianakis of The Hangover makes a hilarious cameo as a super-fan supplying Stan with a one-of-a-kind bootleg. American Dad licensed a record six songs by the band that will be used in the episode, and Barker does the band justice, capturing the spirit of what My Morning Jacket’s music is all about. The program airs this Sunday, November 22nd, at 9:30pm on Fox.

Jim James – Image Rollo & Grady