Monsters of Folk: When Conor Oberst, M. Ward, and Jim James Talk to God

The first six seconds of “Dear God (Sincerely M.O.F.)” could be the intro to a Ghostface joint, and we expect that white people are as excited for September’s debut Monsters of Folk album as they are for the next one from Ghostface. The band’s made up of Conor Oberst and M. Ward, their buddy Mike Mogis, and Jim James from My Morning Jacket, and while James clearly orchestrated this dreamy, soulful track, it’s the closest thing to a unique product from the group. (We’ve heard the self-titled disc, which isn’t entirely online, and it’s clear who wrote each song.) It’s also their very best effort, a when-the-rock-star-talks-to-God odyssey whose earnestness is fully earned through the music, which we have to go ahead and call heavenly.