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Rating: The year was 1992 when the Jayhawks released their third album, which can be considered, along with the subsequent "Tomorrow the Green Grass," their artistic peak. With this work, the Jayhawks firmly place themselves among the most influential bands of the 1990s American alt. country scene, alongside Wilco (notably: "Summerteeth") and Uncle Tupelo ("No Depression"). To highlight the closeness between these artists, it's worth noting the project that Gary Louris and Jeff Tweedy pursued, simultaneously with their commitments to their respective bands, called Golden Smog, which has released three albums (the last one in 2006).
Returning to the album in question, "Hollywood Town Hall" was the first to be published by a major record label, American Recordings; the first two, despite having a decent impact among enthusiasts, did not manage to bring the Jayhawks the attention they deserved. However, this did not impede their creativity: on the contrary, Mark Olson and Gary Louris, the leaders of the group, demonstrated appreciable maturity and fresh composition. I will say right away, without delving into an analytical description of each track, that this is a very evocative album. In particular, from it, akin to a preliminary sketch of a famous painting, the scents and sensations of the American countryside emerge with clear brightness. It’s a "warm" album, rich in tube-amp sounds and perfect vocal harmonies (almost every piece is sung in two voices): characteristics that make it a perfect soundtrack for (cathartic) summer journeys, or winter afternoons spent by the warmth of the fireplace. What stands out the most, making the sound of the Jayhawks unmistakable, is the homogeneity of the sounds: guitars, harmonica, and Hammond blend perfectly, as if to enhance, if needed, the intense lyricism of the sung parts.
In any case, among others, standouts include "Waiting for the Sun", the calling card of the entire album, where the peculiarities that will accompany subsequent listening remain intact; "Crowded in the Wings", a ballad with deep emotional traits, masterfully underscored by the Hammond; or again "Take Me with You (When You Go)", with its lively and immediate riff; or "Nevada, California", which contains the verse (almost a compendium of the entire album from a sensory evocation perspective) "Can you help me to find Nevada, California", the last stop of an imaginary journey from Minneapolis, their city of origin, heading westward.
In reality, it's not about highlighting potential "singles," but simply about emphasizing the songs most dear to me. Indeed, if you intend to listen to the album proposed here, you can relax and forget the possibility of skipping any song, given the undeniable value of every single note. After the Jayhawks will churn out another valuable album in 1995; however, the subsequent work is more influenced by pop and less by country, which probably led to the withdrawal of rhythm guitarist and vocalist Mark Olson.
Sincerely, Lautrec
Tracklist Lyrics and Videos
01 Waiting for the Sun (04:20)
(Louris, Olson) Pedal Blue Music/Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp. BMI
I was waiting for the sun
Then I walked on home alone
What I didn't know
Was he was waiting for you to fall
So I never made amends
For the sake of no one else
And for the simple reason
That he was waiting for you to fall
Chorus:
It was not lost on me
It was not lost on me
Walking on down the road
Looking for a friendly handout
Somebody ease my soul
So I kept my spirits high
Entertaining passers-by
Wrapped in my confusion
While he was waiting for you to fall
(Chorus)
It was not lost on me
It was not lost on me
Walking on down the road
Walking on down the road
Walking on down the road
Walking on down the road
02 Crowded in the Wings (04:52)
(Louris, Olson) Pedal Blue Music/Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp. BMI
It's taken you so long
Where can you be?
I woulda laid my life down for you
Nothing seems real, nothing seems real
Now that you’re gone
Have you seen the sisters blue-eyed curls of gold
Helen, no one there to be seen
The sun light looks down,
Stripped bear to the ground
Held by the leaves
Chorus:
Been crowded in the wings
Mostly I don’t mind
Been crowded in the wings
Then it’s you I find
Then it’s you I find
Then it’s you I find
Two hundred yards in front of the man
He could never see his way to another day
This time meant the same, cold, cold, cold
Cold once again
(Chorus)
You brought me two, the mother of mountains
You brought me two
And no one reads to you at night
And all your lies came to pass
Just something I said
Made you turn your life in
(Chorus)
(Chorus)
Been crowded in the wings
Been crowded in the wings
Been crowded in the wings
Been crowded in the wings
03 Clouds (04:51)
(Louris, Olson) Pedal Blue Music/Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp. BMI
God of the rich man ain't the God for the poor.
God, men and the state hospital is closed, and wouldn't you know
Winos and office girls in the park.
Wanted you alone to walk beside her,
Wanted you alone to live beside her, it was morning,
Better roads with light on them.
Chorus:
Can your diamonds talk to you, can you see them shine.
Keep them hiding in your room, can they guide you in your time.
Can they guide you in your time.
Windows were broken by your dear one's hands,
Gates left swinging by your dear one's hands,
An old book salesman asked if he could step in.
The sidewalks you slept on held no rest.
Gave away the money you saved
In your trust, you're sorry now.
Light hits you funny at the time.
(Chorus)
The sidewalks, you slept on
They're so broken. They're so broken down
I'll meet you there. I'll meet you there.
Years before and the trees would start to bloom,
You walked outside, wanted back in your room, what did you hope for.
Turn the corner while you slept ?
God of the rich man ain't the God for the poor.
God, men and the state hospital is closed, and won't you know
Winos and office girls in the park.
(Chorus)
(Chorus)
04 Two Angels (04:04)
(Olson) Gunflint Music BMI
I'd hope to find you this morning
Talking to the trees
I could miss you, after what went down.
If false love could lie by you
While I'm swinging low
I could steal downtown, making some sweet time
Chorus:
Two Angels, one bad end
This lifetime's easy
Way back home there's a funeral
Think I'll take to the sidewalk
Knowing it's not real
I could steal downtown, making some sweet time
(Chorus)
Two Angels, one bad end
(Chorus)
(Chorus)
06 Sister Cry (04:08)
(Louris, Olson) Pedal Blue Music/Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp. BMI
Sister cry, what you needed
Bought yourself things you could not use
Could be some man will come along and claim you
Could be you'll wind up in another town.
Sister cry, count the stars.
Is many in the sky that passed you by.
Could be up ahead you'll be seeing changes.
Somehow changes made won’t belong to you.
Chorus:
Someone come along and carry you down
And you called my name
I was so hungry then
Someone come along and carry you down
You could not see you
Someone come along and lay you down
And you don’t talk at all
It’s the hardest way
Someone come along and carry you down
Sister cry, been mistreated.
Doesn't mean someone won’t let you in.
Could be some man will come along and claim you
Could be you'll wind up in another down
This devil’s knocking at your door
But I could lead them all astray
Just don't matter what people say
(Chorus)
Sister cry, count the stars.
Is many in the sky that passed you by.
Could be up ahead you'll be seeing changes.
Somehow changes made won’t belong to you.
Could be up ahead you'll be seeing changes.
Somehow changes made won’t belong to you.
07 Settled Down Like Rain (03:00)
(Louris, Olson) Pedal Blue Music/Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp. BMI
You came and you gave
Without taking
The best was yet to come, I know
For I was forsaken
And so I kept my fingers crossed
To win at any cost
The sound of water falling down
Chorus:
Knock me down
Pick me up
Set me in a row
Your words hung high in the rafters
And settled down like rain
Remain happy ever after
(Chorus)
(Chorus)
You packed up your bags and belongings
And crept out through the back
The sound of footprints on the ground
Your words hung high in the rafters
And settled down like rain
Remain happy ever after
Happy ever after
09 Nevada, California (04:05)
Left his day job behind
Every fool dies trying to give his back
Kicked around on the bum
Like a child I scolded
For broken toys
Can you help me to find Nevada, California
The last thing I did
Was I tried to hold her
The stationmaster is gone
And I'm your lovesick cousin that never wins
First you twist
Then you turn
You're on life's icy mountain, dear passenger
Can you help me to find Nevada, California
Can you help me to find Nevada, California
The last thing I did
Was I tried to hold her
Nevada, California
Nevada, California
The stationmaster is gone
Behind the lies you wonder
There lies a jewel
Could it be something's wrong
The love that won't talk to you
But seldom wins (or seven?)
Can you help me to find Nevada, California
Can you help me to find Nevada, California
Nevada, California
The last thing I did
Is I tried to hold her
10 Martin's Song (02:57)
(Olson) Gunflint Music BMI
He's only six years old, that old killer died.
Put him down in a great big hole, I fill it up all the time.
See the buildings rise up to the sky, parking meters, traffic cops.
You'd best watch your record son, they'll come and lock you up.
Chorus:
I been working all night.
I go long into the day.
You got much money now.
Got the time ahead, you got the time ahead to pay
Smoke and lightning, dressed to kill.
Don't talk to strangers, girl take your pill
Forty years of sudden death, the acid rain is falling on my head
Bush raids (abortion rates?) on the rise, doctors working overtime.
Too much of a good thing not enough, stepping stones, building blocks
(Chorus)
(Chorus)
Cause, I been working all night.
I go along into the day.
You got much money.
Got the time ahead, you got the time ahead to pay
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