| Rainy Day Music | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Studio album by The Jayhawks | ||||
| Released | April 8, 2003 | |||
| Recorded | Sunset Sound Recording Studio, Los Angeles, CA | |||
| Genre | Rock | |||
| Length | 50:51 | |||
| Label | American/Lost Highway | |||
| Producer | Rick Rubin (exec.) Ethan Johns |
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| The Jayhawks chronology | ||||
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Rainy Day Music is an album by the American alternative country and rock band The Jayhawks, released in 2003. It debuted on the Billboard 200 at number 51, selling 19,000 copies that week.[1]
Contents |
At the time of the recording, the band consisted of the trio Gary Louris and long-time members Marc Perlman and Tim O'Reagan. New guitarist Stephen McCarthy replaced guitarist Kraig Johnson. The initial release included a bonus CD of six songs, including a solo live performance by Louris of "Waiting For the Sun", the lead-off track of the groups 1992 album Hollywood Town Hall, on April 26, 2002 at The Woman's Club, Minneapolis, MN.
Guests on the album included Bernie Leadon, Jakob Dylan and Matthew Sweet.
| Professional ratings | |
|---|---|
| Review scores | |
| Source | Rating |
| Allmusic | [2] |
| Dirty Linen | (not rated)[3] |
| Entertainment Weekly | (B+)[4] |
| Glide | [5] |
| Mojo | [6] |
| Pitchfork Media | (6.1/10)[7] |
| Uncut | [8] |
Rainy Day Music received generally enthusiastic, but some lukewarm reviews. In his review for Allmusic, Zac Johnson notes the return to roots music versus the band's previous albums in a more pop style. He praises the first six songs but that "the second half stumbles", concluding that "it's certainly an album that gets better with each listen, so it may yet prove to be worth its weight in acoustic gold."[2] Pitchfork Media reviewer Andrew Bryant agreed that the first half surpasses the second, writing the latter songs "...simply sound forced, pushing the combination of what constitutes alt-country and folk-rock to its limit of self-parody, and at times irreversibly crossing that line." He ultimately concludes the album "the sound of a dog (or more appropriately a bird) chasing its own tail, content with plugging away at the same formula as long as there's still precedence for satisfying their musical niche."[7]
Glide reviewer Shane Handler called it "...a warm statement made in the spirit of bluegrass and country/folk that can uplift, inspire and enduringly stand the test of time."[5] Dirty Linen called it "A low-key effort that features delicate harmonies, recalling California relatives such as Poco and the post-Gram Parsons Burrito Brothers".[3] Uncut gave it 4 out of 5 stars — "It's all acoustic guitars, rich jangling melodies and heavenly harmonies....Gary Louris has come up with some of his most memorable compositions."[8] Entertainment Weekly described it as "Folk-rock laced with banjos, accordions, and pedal steel, Rainy Day Music is the roots move one suspects fans have wanted for years, its classic rock flavor echoing the Byrds, CSNY, and Poco" and gave it a B+ rating.[4] Mojo gave it 3 stars out of 5 — "...their new-found economy makes for some pretty lovely highpoints....Louris is unquestionably a virtuoso, playing his parts with a decorous restraint, and contributing cooing, affectingly human vocals."[6]
All songs by Gary Louris unless otherwise noted.
The initial release of Rainy Day Music included a bonus CD including:
Additional musicians:
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