The Jayhawks - Rainy Day Music

The Jayhawks' 2003 seventh album backs away from their "super-pop" releases like Smile and the underrated Sound of Lies and looks back to their earlier, roots-ier sound. A crisp, gorgeous collection of songs, the back-to basics Rainy Day Music took The Jayhawks a mere six weeks to record and mix from start to finish. The album channels the ghosts of the Byrds, Crosby, Stills & Nash, and Buffalo Springfield, and interpreting their '60s folk jangle and lazy, sunny harmonies through The Jayhawks' own sweetly awkward formula. The first six tracks are all vintage Louris gems - trembling and honest, with warm melodies and hooks for days. Frontman Gary Louris says of the album "It has a rainy day, English countryside kind of feel to it. I think we have been described as a very American band with a very British songwriting style. Maybe that has something to do with it."