SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: THE JAYHAWKS – SANCTUARY PARK

THE JAYHAWKS
SANCTUARY PARK
THIRTY TIGERS

When The Jayhawks initially appeared exactly four decades ago, nobody really expected that this band, then led by Gary Louris and Marc Olson, would make such an impact on country rock with their 90s’ trilogy of albums (Hollywood Town Hall, 1992, Tomorrow the Green Grass, 1995 and Sound of Lies, 1997).

Olson left after the second album, and after the third one, the shifts within the band continued, and somehow, even with the albums still coming on a regular basis, somehow the focus for country rock fans (well fans from other genres too) seems to have shifted elsewhere.

Yet, as the lead in track on Sanctuary Park, their latest album says The Jayhawks are keeping their heads above water. Gary Louris is still there, joined by keyboard player Karen Grotberg, drummer Tim O’Reagan and bassist Marc Perlman. And while there might have been some ups and downs on some of The Jayhawks previous albums, there is no wavering here – the songwriting is top notch and the playing and particularly the vocal experience shows at every step, making this one of the stronger albums by The Jayhawks in recent time.

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