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5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
So nearly a classic..., 11 Sep 2003
The Jayhawks- America's greatest unknown band. If there were any justice in the cruel world of music, these guys would be multi-millionaires, sunning themselves in Beverley Hills, sipping champagne while young, buxom beauties feed them grapes. But instead, they remain undiscovered by the general public, destined to forever plough a lonely Americana furrow. But what a furrow it is.
The Jayhawks are perhaps best known for their crowning achievement Hollywood Town Hall, a towering album that still stands as the best slice of American music made by anyone in the last 15 years. With Rainy Day Music however, they have created an album that comes close, oh so close, to equalling their former heights. The first six songs are magnificant, with Stumbling Through the Dark, Tailspin and Save It For a Rainy Day among the best songs in the 'Hawks canon. Problems arise however, when Gary Louris, the chief songwriter, allows three songs to make it on to the album that are, in all honesty, substandard. While one of the songs-You Look so Young- is penned by himself, the other wretched two, Don't Let the World Get in Your Way and Will I See You in Heaven, prevent the album from being a bona fide masterpiece. If only Louris had replaced these songs with Fools on Parade, Say Your Prayers and Caught With A Smile on my Face from the bonus disc that came with early pressings of the album, Rainy Day Music would not only have been the greatest Jayhawks album,but one of the greatest ever recorded. As I said, oh so close.
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4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Not just for a rainy day, 13 May 2003
After the patchy 'Sound OF Lies' and the disastrously experimental 'Smile', Gary Louris needed to pull an album of great songs out of the bag to prove that the Jayhawks weren't washed up when Mark Olson left to pursue a quasi-solo career with wife Victoria Williams. Wisely, he's chosen to return to ditch the preoccupation with 1960's acid-rock and return to the rootsy, folky rock music that did so much to make the Jayhawks' name in the first place.The album vindicates his decision. It's a wonderful slice of sunny, summery pop music and deceptively simple, but strong, songwriting. The vocal harmonies are out in force, and the influence of producer Ethan Johns shines through with the Byrdsian jangle of polished guitars and raw, honest production values. For any newcomers to the Jayhawks, this is as good a place to start as any - accessible and deep. (You may want to check "Tomorrow The Green Grass" first, though.) From 'Stumbling Through The Dark' via 'All The Right Reasons',' Save It For A Rainy Day', 'One Man's Problem', the harmonies and tunes keep on coming, one after the other. It's almost an embarrassment of riches - until Tim O'Reagan contributes 'Don't Let The World Get In Your Way', which sounds uncannily like David Bowie's Space Oddity but isn't anywhere near as good. Not to despair - the album finishes strongly with 'Tampa To Tulsa' and a reprise of the opening track, by which time you want to press 'play' and enjoy it all over again. Perfect for summer, and great to hear the Jayhawks doing what they do best once again.
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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Appeals to all alt-country lovers not just Jayhawks fans., 17 Jul 2004
More mainstream-sounding than most of their previous albums, and the harmonies sound a lot smoother. I would like to say rootsy but everyone seems to be describing this album like that so I won't bother, but it appeals to me more than say, "Hollywood Town Hall" which I still fail to see why it gets such rave reviews (don't get me wrong, still a good album). My other favourite is "Tomorrow The Green Grass", but getting back to "Rainy Day Music"; those who like their music more on the beaten path should like it. Those who like to stray from this path, try it anyway, or listen to Wilco, or whatever.P.S. If you're a fan, look for the special edition version with the Bonus CD "More Rain", which contains 5 more live and unreleased tracks.
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