The Jayhawks : Rainy Day Music (Lost Highway, 2003)

Favourite Songs:

All The Right Reasons, Eyes Of Sarahjane, Stumbling Through The Dark, Tailspin

The new Jayhawks album is finally out. I waited it eagerly and now I have to say that I'm slightly disappointed. Rainy Day Music is definitely good album, but not so astounding as their back catalogue. It could just be that I've set my standards too high for Jayhawks, because it's one of my favourite groups. Are they victims of their glorious past or is the reviewer just so bloody ignorant and doesn't have a clue what he is talking about. I would go with the latter...

Luckily even if they are not even close their best form, they are still able to make delightful music. On the first three songs everything is the way it should be. 'Stumbling Through The Dark' (song by Gary Louris and Matthew Sweet) is a great opener and the utterly wonderful ballad 'All The Right Reasons' ,which is my own favourite song of the album, lifts the expectations to sky high. After the single 'Save It For A Rainy Day' the album rises to it's second peak with fabulous 'Eyes Of Sarahjane', but the rest of the album doesn't contain any really magical moments. Melodic countrypop tune 'Angelyne' and 'You Look So Young' are the only ones which rise above average. The rest of the songs are still quite pleasant to listen to, but The Jayhawks could make something so much more fascinating. Therefore this is a slight disappointment to me personally. I've heard people stating that this the best album by The Jayhawks. I just don't see it that way. The likes of 'All The Right Reasons' and 'Eyes Of Sarahjane' are among the best songs by The Jayhawks, though. About four or five perfect songs just isn't enough. Hopefully 'Rainy Day Music' is a grower and I can take my words back when I realise in december that it is one of my top picks for the best album of 2003. Currently I doubt it, but I still love the band and would still love to see them live at Tavastia on 28th of april. The last concert they made there is probably the best live show I've ever seen. Maybe even beating the almighty Posies.





The Jayhawks Website


Written 15.04.2003