Customer Reviews

Hollywood Town Hall

5 star:		(36)
4 star:		(11)
3 star:		(8)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

My first impression of Hollywood Town Hall was "Well, that was nice." Then I set the album aside. Some things get better with age. Over the years I've played it frequent, each time discovering something fresh. What impresses me most is that Hollywood Town Hall sounds both effortless and balanced. Instead of getting together a saying "Hey, let's do a country album" or "Let's do a rock album," these guys just got together and did what came natural. And natural means skillful songwriting, masterful playing and savory harmonies. The vocal harmonies remind me of a cross between the Everly Brothers and the country duo the O'Kanes: neither country, not hillbilly, nor rock, but certainly earnest.

The CD glistens with an uncommon balance. The fuzz guitars (Waiting For The Sun, Take Me With You When You Go), screaming guitars (Wichita) and melodic bass guitar are blended into an ear-catching, but soothing mix of folk, country and rock. Gary Louris' fingering technique is clever: he makes an electric guitar sound like a pedal-steel (Two Angels). Through and through, Nicky Hopkins (Rolling Stones) provides the tasteful and understated keyboard work. The group and the album defy categorization. At low to moderate listening levels, the album is calm and peaceful. Turn-up the volume and Hollywood Town Hall rocks. I don't know what to call it except glorious.

1992's "Hollywood Town Hall" is an alt-rock classic. Every song on this album is a gem. Technically the Jayhawks' third album (after their eponymous debut, also known as the "Bunkhouse Album," [1986] and "Blue Earth" [1989]), HTH is the culmination of the band's early sound. Olson and Louris weren't fighting yet-- they were still having fun making their guitars jangle and their fuzz boxes buzz. (Think Roger McGuinn meets the Jesus and Mary Chain... on ecstacy...) And their vocal harmonies are just plain gorgeous. The lyrics are poetic and obscure, always a tad wistful, but the music is clear and bright-- in short, this is why the early-mid-90's alt-country movement has sometimes been called "no depression." They keep the earthy, folky roots of the music intact, but add gritty rock and honeyed pop overtones for a sound that's both familiar and new. (Well, that just sounds pretentious... but it's true!) Anyway, HTH's sound and mood are so consistent and seamless that it's hard to choose standout tracks, but my favorites are "Waiting for the Sun," "Crowded in the Wings," "Take Me With You (When You Go)," "Settled Down Like Rain," "Nevada, California," and "Martin's Song."

[Historical note: the term "no depression" was probably first applied to alt-country in homage to the 1990 Uncle Tupelo album of that name, which was, in turn, a tip o' the hat to the Carter Family's depression era song, "No Depression in Heaven."]

Do you count 'After the Gold Rush', 'Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere' and 'Ragged Glory by Neil Young' among your all-time favorite albums? Then you must run and get this album immediately. The first track, 'Waiting for the Sun' showcases the Jayhawks perfect harmonies and Gary Louris's heart stopping melodic leads. Like the Eagles album 'Desperado' every song on this album flows seamlessly from one to the next. The haunting 'Nevada California' captures the stark beauty and emptiness one experiences driving up thru the high dessert between Reno NV and Lake Tahoe CA. Y2K is about two weeks away, I think I'll pick up an extra copy of 'Hollywood Town Hall'. Five stars doesn't do this masterpiece justice.

*** This Review Is For The 2011 Extended LEGACY EDITION ***

After two accomplished Indie albums in 1986 and 1989 ("The Jayhawks" and "Blue Earth"), The Jayhawks finally made everyone sit up and take notice with their stunning 1992 breakthrough Americana effort "Hollywood Town Hall". This January 2011 Legacy Edition is a remaster of that revered 3rd album and now features 5 bonus tracks (two of which are previously unreleased).

American 88697 72731 2 breaks down as follows (61:12 minutes):

Tracks 1 to 10 are the album "Hollywood Town Hall" released in 1992 on Def American 26829 (it finally charted in the USA in early 1993)
Tracks 11, 12 and 13 are "Leave No Gold", "Keith And Quentin" and "Up Above My Head" - they first appeared on a Promo-Only 1993 Def American US CD compilation called "Scrapple" (11 was a bonus track on the European edition of the CD album, while 12 and 13 later turned up as non-album B-sides on the European and Australian CD singles for "Waiting For The Sun")
Tracks 14 and 15 are "Warm River" and "Mother Trust You To Walk To The Store" - and are PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED

Tracks 1 to 15 are all written by MARK OLSON and GARY LOURIS and produced by GEORGE DRAKOULIAS - except "Witchita" (Track 8) which is co-written with Marc Perlman and Track 14 which is a Sister Rosetta Tharpe and Marie Knight cover version of "Up Above My Head, I Hear Music In The Air" (1949 Gospel tune on Decca)

The 2011 2CD Legacy Edition of "Tomorrow The Green Grass" is missing 3 non-album B-sides (when there was room for them) because they're on the superlative "Music From The North Country" American Recordings 2CD/1DVD compilation from 2009 - the same applies here. There are 2 outtakes on "Music From..." called "Stone Cold Mess" and "Mission On 2nd" which are NOT on this issue - the band probably didn't want to duplicate what fans have already bought. It's worth mentioning that if you want a fuller picture, you'll need 'both' releases despite this being a supposed all-encompassing 'Legacy Edition'. I've reviewed "Music From..." and "Tomorrow..." separately.

Instead of a 3-way card digipak like "Tomorrow..." - this CD is in a jewel case and features an upgraded 20-page booklet with new liner notes by the album's producer and long-time band friend George Drakoulias. There's the original Joe Henry liner notes from December 1991 with new photos of the boys in the studio, out on the road, typed and handwritten lyric sheets - it's very nicely done and in keeping with the original artwork.

The original tapes have been remastered by VIC ANESINI (he also did the "Music From The North Country" set) and the sound quality is BEAUTIFUL - so sweet and warm. Tracks like "Waiting For The Sun", "Martin's Song" and "Settled Down Like Rain" were standouts anyway on the original CD, but here they sound just gorgeous. The remaster also makes you rehear a lot of the lesser-lauded gems on the record like the plaintive Ryan Adams guitar-feel of "Take Me With You (When You Go)" and "Nevada, California" - they now sound 'so' good and as growers - they've have stood the test of time.

To sum up - the remaster is superlative, the booklet is improved and the 5 bonus tracks are cleverly chosen and worthy additions.

Very, very good indeed....and as a band...I sorely miss them. Recommended.

You know an album is great when after a few listens, you can't decide which song you'd most like to hear and just start it from the beginning. Hollywood Town Hall is that kind of album. The songwriting is amazing in its consistant brilliance. As for the style, if the Stones had grown up in Minnesota (and were still young) they might sound like this. Unfortunately, later Jayhwaks albums do not quite measure up. If you buy one, this is the one you want.

Hollywood Town Hall is not your average record.


It is a timeless gem that has a very cohesive ambience making it one of the most storied and warming American records of all time.

From the soaring guitars of "Nevada California", to the lament of "Martins Song", Hollywood Town Hall is an American masterpiece.

For the first time listeners, beware. This record at first may seem like simple bar band rock, or the different vocals may turn you off. The unique vocals are part of what give this music it's magic. It took me a few months of having this cd to "get it". Most listeners are use to perfectly mainstream voices, and perfect placement of parts in all the songs in a neat paint by numbers order. The Jayhawks instead come to their song writing conclusions in a roundabout, behind the back flourishing fashion. They are magicians of songcraft.


Simply one of the best American rock/pop band recordings of all time.

I am not much of a music reviewer, but I just wanted to get my vote in. I have owned this album since it was released and I keep coming back to it. The songs are always fresh and leave me with a longing for other bands like the Jayhawks. If a band can create an album like this just once in their career, they have done a great job. I urge you to take a chance and buy this one, you won't regret it.

The first few times through, this CD made little impression on me. Then, I really listened to it. I was on a road trip, it was a CD I picked up on the way out the door, but it and Buddy Miller's _Universal United House of Prayer_ were the only ones I played. And both were worth the time and attention. At least one of these cuts--"Nevada, California," "Waiting for the Sun," or my favorite, "Crowded in the Wings"--will eventually get to you and draw you in. It might take a rainy-day road trip to set the mood, but the Jayhawks will eventually make you glad you listened.

The first three jayhawks albums are all excellent but for me 'hollywood town hall'is a true classic .mark olsen and gary louris seem to be at the height of ther powers, every track is pure class and with 'crowded in the wings' has the ability to bring a tear to the eye of the hardest of men.so listen to the 30 second clips that amazon has provided and click on the wee box that says buy, because this cd just might be one of the best buys you have ever made?

This is some good, warm, down-home country-folk-rock. It's not boundary-pushing like Uncle Tupelo's early work, and it never raises its musical voice to a shout. It's a lot like Neil Young's "Zuma" record in my mind, and I'm sure there are other comparisons that would work as well. In fact, from the moment you put it on your stereo, it will sound like something you've heard before. But that familiarity is not a bad thing. It's kind of a comfort-food album for me, and one I tend to reach for when I'm not doing the best. It's got that simple, home-spun profundity that their later work seems to lack. I'd recommend it to someone who is already a fan of alt-country music, and is looking to broaden their horizons a bit. Classic stuff, if you're open to it.