at a glance...

Hometown: Minneapolis, MN
Year Formed: 1985

Members:
Gary Louris -vocals, electric guitar, acoustic guitar, chamberlin, bass pedals
Marc Perman -bass, acoustic guitar, 12-string electric
Kraig Johnson -electric and acoustic guitar, electric e-bow
Tim O'Reagan -drums, vocals
Karen Grotberg -piano, organ, vocals
Jesy Greene -violin, viola, cello
Additional musicians:
Matthew Sweet, Pauli Ryan, George Drakoulias

Bands In The Family:
Golden Smog, Uncle Tupelo, Wilco, Son Volt, Victoria Williams, Joe Henry, Soul Asylum, Blue Mountain, Run Westy Run, Big Star, The Honeydogs

Notes:
In 1985 in Minneapolis, Minnesota, Stagger Lee stand-up bass player Mark Olson decided to form a Replacements meet Flying Burrito Bros.-inspired band. He enlisted guitarist Marc Perlman (convincing him to take up the bass) and Norm Rogers, the first player in a revolving line-up of drummers. Soon after local guitar hero Gary Louris signed up and they became The Jayhawks. When they opened for Alex Chilton at a Minneapolis club, wealthy stockbroker Charlie Pine took notice, became their manager and formed Bunkhouse Records. Their debut album, The Jayhawks (usually referred to as "The Bunkhouse album") was released in 1986. Minneapolis independent label Twin/Tone picked up the band in ’88 and Blue Earth appeared in 1989, bringing the group considerable attention and a national tour. Legend has it that when producer George Drakoulias heard Blue Earth playing in the background during a phone call to Twin/Tone’s offices, The Jayhawks were immediately signed to major label Def American Records and in 1991 recorded their breakthrough album, Hollywood Town Hall. The album was a critical success and generated radio airplay, especially for Louris’ "Waiting for the Sun." Next, pianist Karen Grotberg joined the group and they entered the studio again for 1995’s Tomorrow The Green Grass, featuring the single "Blue." A tour followed, but Olson announced he was quitting the band to spend more time with his MS-stricken wife, Victoria Williams. In 1997, The Jayhawks - now consisting of Louris, Perlman, Grotberg, guitarist Kraig Johnson and drummer Tim O'Reagan - released the more pop- oriented album Sound of Lies. Grotberg left the band in early 2000 and was replaced by ex-Dag keyboardist Jen Gunderman. Smile, their first for Columbia Records, was released in May 2000.

For a record to reach the masses, it needs to be not only musically mind-blowing, but sprinkled with the perfect blend of fairy dust. Tours, product placement, press, radio airplay, and sheer luck are also essential.

Completed shortly before the collapse of American Recordings, Sound of Lies by The Jayhawks - although musically mind-blowing - received zero label support. Without those key promotional benefits, even some longtime fans were unaware of its existence. Prior albums, Tomorrow the Green Grass and Hollywood Town Hall generated radio play, tugged at the heartstings and defined the band's signature sound of "country-tinged rock 'n' roll with an intellectual attitude." After the departure of Mark Olson, Gary Louris took the reigns, wrote more sophisticated pop songs, added the talented Kraig Johnson on guitar to the line-up and thus The Jayhawks entered a new phase of their sound.

Every track is enchanting. "Think About It" and "Big Star" are the up-tempo highlights. "Trouble," "Dying on the Vine," and "Sound of Lies" are expertly-crafted and moody. Tunes like "Stick in the Mud," a break-up song so moving, it threatens to overshadow the intensity of The Band's all-time classic, "It Makes No Difference," and "Bottomless Cup," written and sung by drummer Tim O'Reagan, are melodic weepers.

Sound Of Lies has been described as "inaccessible." Well, as Louris claims in "Trouble," "there is a little bit of truth in every lie." Actually, it's a reality-based collection of beautiful songs that state it's ok to be scared, it's ok to change, and it's ok to feel these emotions - accept what fate hands you, celebrate and move on. Just like romances that start with a fire and suddenly burn out, albums and people that you get to know over time are usually the ones that last the longest and shine the brightest.

If you like The Jayhawks, check out:
The Jayhawks Hollywood Town Hall
The Jayhawks Tomorrow The Green Grass
The Jayhawks Blue Earth
The Jayhawks Smile
Vic Chestnutt Is The Actor Happy?
Bob Dylan Blood On The Tracks
Flying Burrito Brothers Hot Burritos!
Wilco Summer Teeth
Radiohead The Bends
Luna Days Of Our Nights
Oasis (What's The Story) Morning Glory?
Beth Orton Trailer Park
R.E.M. Murmur

-- Joanna Lux

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