THURSDAY MORNING MIX

January 27, 2011

Scott Foley

2011 is not a bad year so far for Jayhawks fans. Their seminal alt.country albums Hollywood Town Hall and Tomorrow the Green Grass have been reissued with new, largely unheard material. The line-up behind those recordings has taken to the road for a series of live shows. And best of all, the Jayhawks are writing and recording new material. While many critics declare the band became irrelevant following the departure of Mark Olson, I would argue that both Smile and Rainy Day Music (the band's swansong in 2003) featured some of the Jayhawks' best tunes.

Olson, on the other hand, retreated into the desert with Victoria Williams to make a series of sometimes uneven, always worthy records under variations on the Creekdippers moniker. Louris' single effort at a solo CD, 2008's Vagabonds demonstrated his strength as a tunesmith and a crafter of roots-pop gems. Later that same year, Louris and Olson reassembled to tour and record a collection of already-existing and brand new songs for Ready for the Flood.

One would hope that a Jayhawks reunion album might rekindle the chemistry between Olson's lyrical gifts and Louris' way with a tune. While we wait, here is a great piece from Pop Matters, offering a glimpse into the mind of Mark Olson.

* Lyle Lovett, "Old Friend" I Love Everybody (MCA, 94)
* Caitlin Rose, "Own Side" Own Side Now (Names, 10)
* Musketeer Gripweed, "River Callin" Dyin' Day (Self, 10)
* Lynn Miles, "Fearless Heart" Fall For Beauty (True North, 10)
* Wanda Jackson, "Dust on the Bible" Party Ain't Over (Nonesuch, 11)
* Drive-by Truckers, "Everybody Needs Love" Go-Go Boots (ATO, 11)
* Nanci Griffith, "Speed of the Sound of Loneliness" Other Voices Other Rooms (Elektra, 93)
* Kasey Anderson, "Exit Ghost" Heart of a Dog (Red River, 11)
* Halden Wofford & the Hi Beams, "Don't Care if I Do" Midnight Rodeo (Self, 06)
* Charlie Louvin, "I Wanna Die Young (at a Very Old Age)" Longest Train (Watermelon, 96)
* Wailin' Jennys, "Swing Low Sail High" Bright Morning Star (Red House, 11)
* Tony Furtado, "Can't Lie Down" Golden (Funzalo, 10)
* White Buffalo, "Love Song #2" Prepare for Black & Blue (Ruff Shod, 10)
* Ponderosa, "Old Gin Road" Moonlight Revival (New West, 10)
> Jayhawks, "Up Above My Head" Hollywood Town Hall (remastered) (American, 11)
* Bow Thayer, "Dawning" Bottom of the Sky (Twisted River, 10)
* Slim Cessna's Auto Club, "3 Bloodhounds 2 Shepherds 1 Fila Brasiliero" Unentitled (Alt Tentacles, 11)
* Joe Purdy, "Down to the Water" This American (Mudtown Crier, 10)
* Lori McKenna, "You Get a Love Song" Lorraine (UMPG Nashville, 11)
* AJ Roach, "Sears & Roebuck Suit" Revelation (Waterbug, 08)
* Phosphorescent, "Joe Tex These Taming Blues" Aw Come Aw Wry (Misra, 05)
* Dolorean, "The Unfazed" The Unfazed (Partisan, 11)
* Old 97s, "Every Night is Friday Night (Without You)" Grand Theatre Vol 1 (New West, 10)
* Malcolm Holcombe, "To Drink the Rain" To Drink the Rain (Music Road, 11)
* Decemberists, "All Arise" King is Dead (Capitol, 11)
* Abigail Washburn, "Divine Bell" City of Refuge (Rounder, 10)
* Patrick Sweany, "Leave Ohio" That Old Southern Drag (9 Mile, 11)