Left of the Dial
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Gary Louris: Vagabonds
by Donny Kutzbach
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Rykodisc
If the Jayhawks weren’t one of the most underappreciated bands of the last couple decades, I am certainly not the one to pick out any of the others. Gary Louris—along with Twin Cities brethren Mark Olson and Marc Perlman—carved a path far different from the ragged likes of locals like the Replacements and Hüsker Dü with his sunshine-kissed country balladry with a certain rock grit and a never-flagging pop sense. Olson left and Louris pursued darker corners of pop and folk until the band finally dissolved a few years ago. Finally, Louris—who these days splits his time between Minneapolis and Spain while being called on to help pen songs for acts like Dixie Chicks—has issued the long-awaited solo album. Louris not only indulges his songwriting gift on Vagabonds but also proves his knack for arrangement. Co-produced with long-time friend/Black Crowe Chris Robinson, the album picks up where the Jayhawks left off with a forward look. With pedal steel, organ and Louris’ mellow tenor, “D.C. Blues” sets the contemplative tone of the record. The Dylanesque title track displays that Louris hasn’t lost his gift for a world-weary and bittersweet tune. “She Calls Me on Sundays” deftly toes a line between gospel-lifted harmonies and perfect countrified instrumentation over a downtrodden tale of pain that the protagonist attempts to wash away with cigarettes, booze and pills. “True Blue” is a grandiose dose of country rock.
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