Album Review: The Jayhawks - XOXO

In previous occasions I've had the opportunity to talk about The Jayhawks, I have mentioned that I have an odd relationship with them. "Hollywood Town Hall" is one of my favorite albums ever, "Rainy Day Music" is a fabulous summer treat for me, and their last collection "Back Roads And Abandoned Motels" was one of the best albums of its year. But despite that, I have never been able to embrace "Smile" or "Tomorrow The Green Grass" the way most fans did, and the sonic experimentation of "Paging Mr Proust" was baffling to me. So what do we get from this latest sojourn, where the band is more collaborative than ever before?

This album is The Jayhawks as I know and love them; a rootsy, Americana band playing simple songs that float by with beautiful melodies and harmonies. At their best, their music is rather ethereal, a timeless soundtrack to a country that at present times doesn't seem like it exists. There's a nostalgia to the sound, even if we know that feeling is a longing for a time that never was. In a sense, these songs are a time machine to somewhere better than anything we have known.

There are the traditional Jayhawks songs like the single, "This Forgotten Town", where Gary Louris' voice is the gentle breeze pushing the boat forward. There are also some wings being spread, like on "Dogtown Days", where Tim O'Reagan takes the lead for a more rocking track where the electric guitars are sharper than usual, to accent the tone of his voice. Likewise, when Karen Grotberg takes her turn in front, her piano is more up front in the mix, wisely tailoring the song to best fit her tone.

My favorite moments are still the ones where the band blends their folk and classic rock influences, where Louris puts a bit of fuzz on his guitar and showcases his melodic soloing to add even more layers to the mix of voices. There has always been a wistful quality to the band's music, but that is made more of a focus on this record. This is The Jayhawks playing some of their softest music, which might sound boring, but it plays into the strengths of the current incarnation of the band. They are players who excel at making beautiful music. They don't have the same biting tones or upbeat swagger of the early days, but what they do now is wonderful in a different way.

"XOXO" reminds me most of "Rainy Day Music", both in terms of the band sharing vocal duties and songwriting, but also in the tone the record takes. This album is one for a lazy day, a soundtrack for sitting around and thinking. It calms the blood rather than get it flowing, and for that purpose it hits the mark. In a crazy time, when we all have our minds racing a hundred miles an hour from one bad news story to the next, "XOXO" is a decompressant, a moment to stop and breathe.

The Jayhawks and I ebb and flow, and right now our waters are flowing in the same direction. "XOXO" is the band focusing on their roots, and that is where strength lies. As someone who regularly gets a welcome feeling from their music, the band has added another entry on the positive side of the ledger. The ink runs black on this one.