Fritz Posted April 9, 2014 Share Posted April 9, 2014 I don't own (and, in fact, have not even heard) any of the Olson-less Jayhawks albums. What's the pick of the bunch? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Shug Posted April 9, 2014 Share Posted April 9, 2014 Sound Of Lies is kinda lush production and a bunch of sad and beautiful songs. Smile is perhaps over-produced (Bob Ezrin) and inconsistent. Rainy Day Music is more acoustic and stripped down, produced by Ethan Johns. Its beautifully recorded but I'd wait for the remaster, there was some issues with the mastering that made it over-saturated/peak-clipped. The songwriting on Rainy Day Music is very consistently great, IMO. I'd recommend both Sound Of Lies and Rainy Day music, but if you are only getting one, it depends on whether you prefer a fuller pop sound or something more acoustic and rootsy. You can't go wrong with either one, though. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Fritz Posted April 9, 2014 Share Posted April 9, 2014 Thanks for that. I'll wait for the remasters but I like your description of Rainy Day Music. I might start with that. I think I'll most likely end up getting all of them, though. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
uncool2pillow Posted April 10, 2014 Share Posted April 10, 2014 When I saw Olson/Louris, they played lots of Rainy Day Music. Surprised re-formed Jayhawks don't. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
The Inside of Outside Posted April 10, 2014 Share Posted April 10, 2014 I was a huge fan of HTH and TTGG when they came out, and I was bummed when Olson left the band. The shows during the HTH tour were particularly fantastic. Then I saw them on the Sound of Lies tour, with Kraig, and they rocked out. It was a much heavier sound, and I liked it. A lot. I'd go see this tour in a heartbeat. I liked what Kraig brought to the band in terms of his guitar sound. I thought Kraig's work in Golden Smog was great, too. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
LouieB Posted April 10, 2014 Share Posted April 10, 2014 Rainy Day Music is a great album. I am not so much a fan of the other two. At some point these guys are going to have to come to terms with the fact that fans want to see the Jayhawks, not so much Louris or particularly Olsen solo (he can barely fill a small room.) Maybe Olsen makes enough off royalties but it seems to me he should be happy to part of a band doing both eras of material. LouieB Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Londonist Posted July 19, 2014 Share Posted July 19, 2014 I saw them at Shepherd's Bush last night - the sound wasn't great but they played tightly and for nearly 2 hours. The highlight was a beautiful rendition of Tampa to Tulsa - I think I need to check out Tim O'Reagan's album! Of interest for the future of the band - someone shouted out 'what about a new album?' and Louris said 'we have to make up for putting out that last one that was a stinker, this is the apology tour'. Which I guess could be interpreted as they might have another go at an album that Louris is happy with, but I sort of got the feeling that he felt a bit burned and this might be it... Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Analogman Posted July 19, 2014 Author Share Posted July 19, 2014 That is a great song. I guess they are down on the last one. I have not listened to it in a long time. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
uncool2pillow Posted July 19, 2014 Share Posted July 19, 2014 That is a great song. I guess they are down on the last one. I have not listened to it in a long time.I initially thought I liked it, but haven't listened to it in a LONG time. I guess I liked the idea of a Louris/Olson Jayhawks LP more than the reality. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Londonist Posted July 19, 2014 Share Posted July 19, 2014 I stumbled across this, which is fairly explicit about the future of the band "I felt burned out after that last time, and I did not like that record at all," he says. "It takes away from our catalogue." "I love that we are now playing some songs we haven't done in ten or 15 years, or at all," he says. "But I don't know how I'm going to feel in six months. I don't want to make [new] Jayhawks music or keep the band going out of desperation.""And I'm working on all kinds of crazy stuff," Louris adds. "Solo music. Side bands. Producing. Teaching. Like Marconi on acid! The Jayhawks may never be my No. 1 focus. But what a gift it is to have it." http://blogs.houstonpress.com/rocks/2014/07/head_jayhawk_gary_louris_flyin.php?page=2 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
BobLamonta Posted July 24, 2014 Share Posted July 24, 2014 Anyone on the fence about these reissues should get them because A) it puts some money in Gary Louris' pocket and Gary Louris is an American treasure and 2) the sound on Rainy Day Music is vastly superior to the original CD issue, which was crazy compressed and audibly distorted at times. I mean, the brickwall thing has been a problem for a while, but at least it makes a tiny bit of sense for loud rock music or hip-hop or whatever, but clipping and distortion on an acoustic Jayhawks record? Insanity. The new iteration rights a 10-year wrong. H2H and TTGG are undisputed masterpieces, no doubt (though H2H is spottier than most people want to admit), but I'll take Louris-led 'Hawks just about any day. SO happy to hear he's taking control of the legacy again. Mockingbird Time isn't awful, but there can't be more than five songs from that album that I kept on my iPod. It's like Blue Earth or Bunkhouse to me. Heretical though it may seem to many other die-hard fans, I just don't consider that stuff canon. Give me the Louris trinity (and throw in the gorgeous Vagabonds as well) over the twangy, Parsons-lite stuff any day. Really hoping to see the reformed late-90s line-up again. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
remphish1 Posted July 24, 2014 Share Posted July 24, 2014 Anyone on the fence about these reissues should get them because A) it puts some money in Gary Louris' pocket and Gary Louris is an American treasure and 2) the sound on Rainy Day Music is vastly superior to the original CD issue, which was crazy compressed and audibly distorted at times. I mean, the brickwall thing has been a problem for a while, but at least it makes a tiny bit of sense for loud rock music or hip-hop or whatever, but clipping and distortion on an acoustic Jayhawks record? Insanity. The new iteration rights a 10-year wrong. H2H and TTGG are undisputed masterpieces, no doubt (though H2H is spottier than most people want to admit), but I'll take Louris-led 'Hawks just about any day. SO happy to hear he's taking control of the legacy again. Mockingbird Time isn't awful, but there can't be more than five songs from that album that I kept on my iPod. It's like Blue Earth or Bunkhouse to me. Heretical though it may seem to many other die-hard fans, I just don't consider that stuff canon. Give me the Louris trinity (and throw in the gorgeous Vagabonds as well) over the twangy, Parsons-lite stuff any day. Really hoping to see the reformed late-90s line-up again.I used to be all about Louris Jayhawk input now I am about the Olson stuff. I love Bunkhouse and Blue Earth every single song. I feel like those songs are more unique. Don't get me wrong I love all the Jayhawks do but 9 out of 10 times I pick up one of the first three albums to spin. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
remphish1 Posted August 29, 2014 Share Posted August 29, 2014 Sad to hear http://www.startribune.com/entertainment/music/273073971.html Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Londonist Posted August 29, 2014 Share Posted August 29, 2014 Wow, what a shitty interview for Olson to give in the run up to those big hometown shows! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Rusty Shackleford Posted August 30, 2014 Share Posted August 30, 2014 Sad to hear http://www.startribune.com/entertainment/music/273073971.html Indeed. I wish I'd seen Olson and Louris when they did their acoustic tour a few years back. Seems unlikely there'll be another one. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Smokestack Joe Posted August 31, 2014 Share Posted August 31, 2014 yes it is sad to read. it is too bad they can't get along. it was great to see them perform together but that is likely dead and gone. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Ghost of Electricity Posted August 31, 2014 Share Posted August 31, 2014 I was wondering about Olson's absence regarding the run up to the big shows. Too bad. The Olson-era Jayhawks are to the rest what Stars Wars is to Willow. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Vacant Horizon Posted August 31, 2014 Share Posted August 31, 2014 it is sad. their acoustic tour was excellent, but the reunited jayhawks was not the greatest. olson was totally phoning it in when i saw them and there wasn't one keeper on that last album. i'm def interested in a new olson album. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
remphish1 Posted August 31, 2014 Share Posted August 31, 2014 it is sad. their acoustic tour was excellent, but the reunited jayhawks was not the greatest. olson was totally phoning it in when i saw them and there wasn't one keeper on that last album. i'm def interested in a new olson album.I sorta agree however tiny arrows is great! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Vacant Horizon Posted August 31, 2014 Share Posted August 31, 2014 I sorta agree however tiny arrows is great! Tiny Arrows might be the one keeper. If the songs had been a bit more concise, it would've been a better album. Ready For the Flood was excellent. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Ghost of Electricity Posted September 2, 2014 Share Posted September 2, 2014 Wow, what a shitty interview for Olson to give in the run up to those big hometown shows!Well, if Louris really did break his promise, why would you expect Olson not to speak his mind when asked? Would you expect him to bite his tongue for the benefit of those who had stabbed him in the back? I'd say it is far shittier of Louris to do what he did. from an outsider's perspecticve, of course. Who knows what goes on behind closed doors. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Fritz Posted September 3, 2014 Share Posted September 3, 2014 New Mark Olson album out on 26 September Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Cold as Gasoline Posted September 9, 2014 Share Posted September 9, 2014 This is a good interview/performance with the semi-reunited Jayhawks. http://www.thecurrent.org/feature/2014/09/04/the-jayhawks-perform-live-in-the-current-studio For what it's worth, I am on Team Louris, though I used to say that Jay Farrar got me in the Uncle Tupelo divorce, so things can change! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Fritz Posted September 14, 2014 Share Posted September 14, 2014 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Cold as Gasoline Posted October 14, 2014 Share Posted October 14, 2014 Charming. https://twitter.com/GaryLourisMusic/status/521432494512414720 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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