Blue Earth

Jayhawks | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (April 11, 1995)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Twintone
• ASIN: B0000018VH
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Audio Cassette  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Music
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (21 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #298,359 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Two Angels

2. She's Not Alone Anymore

3. Will I Be Married

4. Dead End Angel

5. Commonplace Streets

6. Ain't No End

7. Five Cups Of Coffee

8. The Baltimore Sun

9. Red Firecracker

10. Sioux City

11. I'm Still Dreaming, Now I'm Yours

12. Martin's Song

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

In the mid-'80s, the last thing the world expected from the frosty hometown of Prince and the Replacements was a band that perfectly captured the spirit of Gram Parsons. Long before anyone had heard of alt-country, the Jayhawks redefined the Minneapolis sound and damn near perfected it on this 1989 sophomore effort. From the evocative pop of "Two Angels" to the hauntingly resonant "I'm Still Dreaming, Now I'm Yours," it's less rock-centric than the group's subsequent George Drakoulias-produced albums, but no less memorable. All in all, a perfect showcase for Mark Olson and Gary Louris's songwriting and harmonies. --Bill Forman

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 16 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Probably the Last Recording of it's Kind! May 3, 2000

By Ed Davis

Format:Audio CD

The Jayhawks Blue Earth record is a one of a kind! Or maybe two of a kind if you count their very first self titled album which is no longer available (OOP). This one is still available, and I strongly suggest buying it before it's not available anymore! It's on the very small Twin-tone label. One listen to this gem, and you'll understand where the Jayhawks came from. The pre-big label Jayhawks doing what they do best, and that's defining what good down home Americana music is all about. Talk about musical "hooks"! I dare you to try and count them on Blue Earth. The songwriting team of Olsen/Louris has never sounded better. These songs will stick in your head for years to come. Although I'm a fan of all the Jayhawks material, Blue Earth has always been my sentimental favorite because the songs are so real and unpolished. By that I mean, this album doesn't have all the glitter that some studio albums have. This sounds more like the guys got together in a studio and played the album straight through live, while having a great time doing it! Do yourself a big favor and pick this one up, then you'll understand where all the other great Alt-country bands came from. Remember, before Uncle Tupelo, there was the Jayhawks!

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars underrated album July 30, 2004

By Ryan Berg

Format:Audio CD

The rereleased, remastered Blue Earth by the Jayhawks is the seedling from which some amazing Americana grew. Originally released in 1989 by the Minneapolis label Twin/Tone, Blue Earth showcases a young band with great promise. Sure the songs are not as polished and well crafted as those on Hollywood Town Hall and later records. But there is a certain rustic charm to the cuts on this album. The listener can hear Olson and Louris search to find their voices in these simple country-styled compositions. Songs like Five Cups of Coffee and Will I Marry show the beginnings of fine craftsmanship. Enjoy this record for what it is: a small gift. There are no professional session players, no big name producer. This is a few guys from the upper midwest saving up some cash for studio time, playing together while drinking a few too many Grain Belt beers. Sounds like Blue Earth to me.

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Raw like cactus April 20, 2005

By DirkL

Format:Audio CD

Personally, I think this album is awesome. It's my favourite Jayhawks album but I'm not sure it's the perfect place for someone new to them to start at. The Jayhawks with Mark Olsen were the definitive manifestation of the band in my opinion. Later albums are less country-ish but still great music with well crafted songs. The best of these, for me are "The Sound of Lies" and the rootsy, Byrds influenced "Rainy Day Music", although "Smile" is the slickest with all the hooks and catchy melodies you could desire. Start with "Hollywood Town Hall" and "Tomorrow the Green Grass" if you want the classic stuff - with Mark Olson and Gary Louris both still in the band, together they became one of those mysterious and exotic magical puddings, like Gram Parsons & Emmylou Harris, Robert Foster & Grant McLennan (the Go Betweens) or even Squeeze's Glenn Tilbrook and Cris Difford (I'd suggest Lennon and McCartney except that no-one will know who they are). All very good on their own but outrageously creative and productive when working together.

On "Blue Earth" though, one song appeals to me more than any other Jayhawks tune; "ain't no end". It doesn't get mentioned in reviews but I think it's one of their finest. Olson's charismatic vocal style and Louris' dirty and loose guitar work make this one a real stunner. The 3 bonus tracks are also worthy inclusions. "Blue Earth" is raw, unpolished and unashamedly country - in a very good way.

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Way better than people let on January 19, 2005

By D. R Smyers

Format:Audio CD

This is THE BEST Jayhawks CD. After mark Left, the band was lightweight at best. His gutsy guitar and vocals are sorely missed. "Rainy Day Music" is the best of the bunch, but "The Blue Earth" is more honest and urgent. Forget all that crap about these "just being demos." Sometimes, the raw setting actually enhances the results. Such is the case here. If you like Gram Parsons, this is the best alt-country has generated in tribute to him.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Jayhawks entered through the 'out' door December 7, 1999

By Peter Booth

Format:Audio CD

The Jayhawks, perhaps the finest American country rock band of the 80s and the 90s have disavowed their country past and have gone rock/ pop - no great loss because their rock is as good as their country. That is to say, it's as good as gold. But this, their so-called 'first album' is a gem in a world of dirge. The upfront acoustic strumming, the heavily rock-influenced playing of Gary Louris and those harmonies conspire to insinuate a path into your brain where they stay for quite some time.

The Jayhawks come across on this record as standard-bearers for the Neil Young/ Gram Parsons school of country rock, with a healthy dose of pop smarts that seem to be missing from most other country rock bands. As they went through two more albums, they became less and less country but no less pastoral in their overall vision. Mark Olsen called it a day in 1995 to spend more time with wife Victoria Williams and Louris opted to keep the band going and going in a new direction. But Blue Earth is about the finest country record of it's generation and it appears on Twintone, the home of the Replacements. This is a recommendation in itself, never mind the fact that the songs are among the strongest written in the genre. Country acts starved of decent material need look no further.