Monday, July 21, 2008

Let's Talk Mr. Louris and The Jayhawks

The new Gary Louris disc Vagabonds is wonderful, as many critics point out. Great acoustic album with a church-like feel thanks to the "choir" of sorts behind him. Thoughtful quiet lyrics on many tunes but not sappy. Lots of comparisons made to CSN&Y in the reviews, although I am not so sure that is what it makes me think of--although I don't have a better one to offer up . . .oh, just go buy it.

But first let's hear what you all have to say about those Jayhawks from whence Mr. Louris comes. What ya'll think--best effort? favorite effort? duds to avoid? And is this just one more reason we should all really just go get some Golden Smog?

And while you ponder, here is a title-track-treat from Vagabonds.

4 comments:

Payton said...

i only recently fell into the jayhawks, and i started with their last one, Rainy Day Music.

It is, by far, the best thing i've purchased since Emotionalism from The Avett Brothers. i only have a couple tracks from each of the rest of their albums, nothing has hit like anything on their '03 release.

I also picked up Vagabonds as well as Golden Smog's most recent, and both are good - not great.

CPS said...

Hey Payton--nice to have you stop by! My first listen to Vagabonds was similar but I have been listening to it a bunch and the more I do the more attached I get to it.

Is there any GS you would recommend?

Payton said...

that's good to hear. many of my favorite albums' greatness wasn't appreciated until the 2nd or 3rd round of listening....

As for GS - i have Another Fine Day and some of it is good, but some drifts outside of my perferred-genre realm. i think the artists that made up the group used it as an escape from the alt-country world they were known for - stretching the limits of their influences. Which i do appreciate, but so far, i haven't found much from them that i really enjoy.
2 cents....

lex dexter said...

tomorrow the green grass, from when olson still wrote for the band, is enough to make you scream from joy.