Monsters of Folk might seem like an inappropriate moniker for indie darlings Jim James, M. Ward, Conor Oberst, and Oberst collaborator Mike Mogis.

The supergroup kicks off its self-titled debut with a number that might fit more comfortably in the genre of Christian R&B pop: “Sometimes it’s so hard to believe in/But God, I know you have your reasons,” sing James, Ward, and Oberst on “Dear God (sincerely M.O.F.)”

But childlike faith gives way to adolescent rebellion on “Baby Boomer,” teachable strife on “Man Named Truth,” and finally cheerful optimism on “The Sandman, the Brakeman, and Me.”

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It’s probably fair to say that Tribute To, the My Morning Jacket singer Jim James Yim Yames‘ new disc of George Harrison versions, comes off more as a thought experiment than an organically approached extracurricular. That’s not a put-down: How many times have you asked, “What if ___ covered ___?” and smiled at the thought? (In my case, I fill in “Panda Bear” and “The Raspberries,” but some dreams are just too good to come true.)

It’s easy to dwell more on what the six-song EP, out today on ATO (and available for free on MySpace), doesn’t cover than what is does. The two Beatles selections amount to probably the best, most haunting song Harrison ever wrote ( “Long, Long, Long”) and one of his more interesting ones ( “Love You To”), but they feel too obvious, and far from the most curious potential choices. Why not “Savoy Truffle” or “Only A Northern Song” or “The Inner effing Light?” Why put forward the best (and best known) version of Harrison when you can plumb the late guitarist’s more idiosyncratic side?

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