The Jayhawks - Music from the North Country The Jayhawks AnthologyDeluxe Edition (40 tracks) +Album Reviews

Great introduction to one of the best bands from the 90s

Mark Blevins | Lindside, WV United States | 07/07/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This single disc collection pulls the highlights from six of The Jayhawks albums. As a long time fan, I've already got all of these songs, but there is a great three disc set with one disc of rarities and a DVD of videos and a short performance for long time fans. I wrote this review for people not familiar with The Jayhawks.

The Jayhawks sound like a 90s version of late 60s Byrds, with some Crosby, Stills and Nash thrown in. Their sound gets tagged as alternative country, but have a lot of folk-rock in their sound. Gary Louris is a unsung guitarist with a unique sound. The harmonies of Mark Olson (who left in 1995 and is gone for tracks 11-20 on the CD) and Louris mix to sound as one. The first ten tracks are marvels of country-rock, folk-rock - whatever you want to call it, it's great music. If you like this, download "Tomorrow the Green Grass" and "Hollywood Town Hall." Both have great songs not included on this disc.

After Olson left, the band became experimental. "Sound of Lies" had some psychedelic touches and "Smile" had the band going pop. "Rainy Day Music" was a throwback to their earlier sound and is also a great record. But for a Jayhawks primer or shoulda-been hits collection, you can't beat this single disc collection.

I discovered them back when I was working in a little AM station in southern WV right out of high school. The station was throwing away CD singles, two of which were "Blue" and "Bad Time," by The Jayhawks. I took them home, popped in the CD player, and have been a big fan ever since.

Fans can quibble about what isn't here - I would have picked "Two Hearts" over "Miss Williams' Guitar" from Tomorrow the Green Grass and "Think About It" over "Big Star" from the Sound of Lies album (which is also a great song.) I'm glad the band is finally getting their due, and I hope more people pay attention this time around. The best news I've heard lately is that the mid-90s lineup is reforming for a few shows. I liked the Olson and Louris record earlier this year, but I would love to have a new Jayhakws album.

Still, for those curious or those who've heard a song or two, this is a great introduction to one of the finest bands from the 90s."

A cornucopia of Jayhawks music

William Merrill | San Antonio, TX United States | 07/08/2009

(4 out of 5 stars)

"I've really been grooving on this new Jayhawks anthology. The deluxe edition is definitely the way to go. The first disc is the "North Country" hits collection, featuring pretty much all of the best loved Jayhawks songs, including "Blue" (my fave). I already own most of the band's albums, pre- and post-Olson, but this is a handy way to get so many of the tunes I like all in one place. The 2nd disc is an assortment of b-sides, outtakes, radio performances and the like, many previously unreleased. The songs are nowhere near as great as the "hits" on disc one, but they still make for some pretty good listening, and hearing them appealed to the collector and curious fan in me. There's a lot of loose and sloppy (fun) stuff on disc two. The third disc (DVD) is a mildly interesting set of music videos plus two EPK's (electronic press kits), featuring interview footage, live performances (ex., SXSW 97), and other miscellanea.

Hearing this music again (disc 1) or for the first time (disc 2), I was struck by how the Jayhawks are in some ways an original and authentic sound, but at the same time, how much they owe to country-rock predecessors like Richie Furay-era Poco, Flying Burritos, etc. The early-Poco similarity was especially strong on many songs. And some of the material on disc two veers pretty strongly into traditional country territory.

One final note is that a "big box retailer" is selling a version of this deluxe edition that has a FOURTH disc of rarities, an EP containing five cuts, live songs and outtakes, all but one previously unreleased. If you get that version, it's just about like getting a Jayhawks box set."

Excellent outtakes and demos for Jayhawks fans on the deluxe

Mark Blevins | Lindside, WV United States | 07/09/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"The three disc set of "Music From the North Country" is essential for Jayhawks fans. Even though disc one is made up of music most long time fans will already own, the second disc makes the purchase worthwhile. Disc two starts out with a tune from the Bunkhouse album from 1986 and proceeds to tap early versions of "Two Angels," here known as "Old Woman From Red Clay," and "A Break in the Clouds," on this set as "Stone Cold Mess." It's fascinating to me to hear these songs in their earlier stages.

"Stone Cold Mess" in particular is interesting because "A Break in the Clouds" is one of my favorite songs off the Smile album and I had no idea the song, or a version of it, had been around for so long. The second disc also includes several B-sides, mainly from the "Blue" single. The song "Get the Load Out" is a great hard rocker, not something the Jayhawks are generally known for, but they pull it off with no problem.

The third disc is a DVD with several music videos and two electronic press kids, one from the Hollywood Town Hall era and the other dating from Smile. The deluxe edition also contains liner notes on all the B-sides and rarities. The notes are well written and informative.

If you are a Jayhawks fan, I would recommend this three disc set. The price is right and there are some gems on that second disc. Amazon is also offering five demos not available anywhere else for download. I bought the three disc set and then downloaded the five songs from Amazon individually. Most of the demos date from the Smile era, with one from 2001. They're not essential, but "Save Me From Myself" and "Second Nature" are both strong tunes."

"...Never Thought That I'd Miss You...That I'd Miss You So M

Mark Barry at Reckless Records, Lon | UK | 11/08/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"American 88697 47043 2 is in tri-gatefold card sleeve with an extensive booklet and song choices overseen by key band member GARY LOURIS. This is the DELUXE EDITION - Disc 1 has 20 remastered tracks from their 6 studio albums (this disc is the one used for the standard single CD version); a bonus Disc 2 which contains 20 rarities (14 of which are previously unreleased) and a bonus DVD that gives you 7 Music Videos Plus 2 EPKs (Electronic Press Kits).

Here's a detailed track-by-track breakdown...

Disc 1 (76:29 minutes):

1. Two Angels

2. Ain't No End (1 and 2 from "Blue Earth", 1989)

3. Waiting For The Sun

4. Martin's Song

5. Clouds

6. Settled Down Like Rain (3 to 6 from "Hollywood Town Hall", 1992)

7. Blue

8. I'd Run Away

9. Over My Shoulder

10. Miss Williams' Guitar (7 to 10 from "Tomorrow The Green Grass", 1995)

11. Trouble

12. Big Star

13. The Man Who Loved Life (11 to 13 from "Sound Of Lies", 1997)

14. Smile

15. I'm Gonna Make You Love Me

16. What Led Me To This Town (14 to 16 from "Smile", 2000)

17. Tailspin

18. All The Right Reasons

19. Save It For A Rainy Day

20. Angelyne (17 to 20 from "Rainy Day Music", 2003)

Disc 2 (76:10 minutes):

1. Falling Star (from "The Jayhawks", privately pressed US-only debut LP limited to 2000 copies, never officially on CD before)

2. Old Woman From Red Clay (Alternate Take of "Two Angels" from "Blue Earth")

3. That's The Bag I'm In (A Fred Neil cover Recorded Live for KFAL Radio in Minneapolis in October 1989)

4. Won't Be Coming Home (1991 Demo, Later Made Famous by GOLDEN SMOG)

5. Stone Cold Mess (Outtake from "Hollywood Town Hall" Sessions, 1992)

6. Mission On 2nd (Outtake from "Hollywood Town Hall" Sessions, 1992)

7. Lights (Victoria Williams cover specially recorded for the Various Artists compilation "Sweet Relief: A Benefit For Victoria Williams", 1993)

8. Darling Today (Non-Album B-side of USA CD single of "Blue", 1995)

9. Break My Mind (Non-Album B-side of USA CD single of "Bad Time", 1995)

10. Get The Load Out (Non-Album B-side of a European CD single of "Bad Time", 1995)

11. Poor Little Fish (Early Version, An Outtake from the "Sound Of Lies" Sessions, 1996)

12. Someone Will (1998 Demo for "I'm Gonna Make You Love Me" from "Smile", first aired on "Live From The Women's Club Official Bootleg" CD in 2003)

13. Cure For This (1999 Previously Unreleased Track, has emerged as "Goodbye Kiss" by Janey Winterbauer and Marc Perlman on their "25:32:47" EP in early 2009)

14. I Can Make It On My Own (1998/1999 Demo from the "Smile" Sessions)

15. Rotterdam (1999 Demo of "All The Right Reasons")

16. Follow Me (2001 Demo by Tom O'Reagan)

17. In The Canyon (2001 Demo, Outtake from the "Rainy Day Music" Sessions)

18. Tailspin (2001 "Early Version" Demo from the "Rainy Day Music" Sessions)

19. I Think I've Had Enough (2001 Demo from the "Rainy Day Music" Sessions)

20. Help Me Forget (2001 Demo from the "Rainy Day Music" Sessions)

Tracks 2 to 6 and 11 to 20 are previously unreleased

"...Anthology..." is produced by JOHN JACKSON and PD LARSON (who also does the liner notes) with superb mastering by GREG CALBI at Sterling Sound in New York. The sound quality is really clean and musically upped a notch ("Blue" in particular is gorgeous - lyrics for this review above). The 26-page booklet gives detailed backgrounds to each song (especially the unreleased stuff) and even if the print is tiny, it makes for a really entertaining and informative read.

I'd expected the quality to dip on Disc 2, but for the most part it's actually a strong rival for the sheer melody of the songs on Disc 1. It's really impressive stuff. Fans will adore "Rotterdam" the demo version of "All The Right Reasons" (surely one of their strongest songs) while the "Poor Little Fish" alternate is them stretching out into soundscapes they normally wouldn't go anywhere near - and winning - I love it. Their cover of the Victoria Williams song "Lights" for her cancer relief CD project is both fantastically musical and poignant. The quirky videos for "Big Star" (bevies of babes petting the boys) and "Save It For A Rainy Day" (ballerina outfits and swimming pools) are just icing on an already rather cool little cupcake.

"Music From The North Country" is a superb overview of a great American band in the tradition of Big Star and R.E.M. - and classily done too. It truly is a shame that they're gone.

Recommended - big time."

Search - The Jayhawks :: Music from the North Country: The Jayhawks Anthology(Deluxe Edition)

CD Details

Synopsis

Similar CDs

CD Reviews