Ready For The Flood

Mark Olson, Gary Louris | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (January 27, 2009)
• Original Release Date: 2009
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: New West Records
• ASIN: B001L4O4RO
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (25 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #104,337 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Although they've toured together and renewed their friendship, this is the first recording by Olson and Louris since Olson left the Jayhawks in 1995. What would become READY FOR THE FLOOD was recorded at Sage & Sound Studios in Hollywood with friend Chris Robinson of The Black Crowes. Louris had called in Robinson, who happened to be in town at that point, for vibe support and he ended up producing the album; he also appears on the album playing harmonica and contributing backing vocals.

READY FOR THE FLOOD captures the stripped down, fingerpicked guitar playing and Laurel Canyon sound of an earlier time, with allusions to English folk Bert Jansch, Nick Drake, John Renbourne, whom both Mark and Gary had both been getting into independently and a simpler, live recording technique where capturing the right vibe was as important as the sound. It s an album that only two career musicians and friends could make organic, intuitive and loosely confident, heartfelt and moving, echoing with the combined experience of two kindred spirits reuniting to do what they do and love best.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

23 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Soul Remembers, January 30, 2009

By 

Howlinw (Florida, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Ready For The Flood (Audio CD)

What strikes me first about this homespun collection is how naturally these two singers' voices mesh together still, after all this time apart. It's been fourteen years since Tomorrow the Green Grass, after all, which is the last recorded Jayhawks effort helmed by this pair. For those unfamiliar with the story, Mark Olson left the Jayhawks after that album's release to record with his wife Victoria Williams. Gary Louris continued to lead the Jayhawks through a more musically adventurous period before the group disbanded after 2003's Rainy Day Music. Since then, Louris has released one solo album (last year's spectacular Vagabonds). A few years ago, the pair reunited for a brief tour (which I sadly missed).

So here they are recording again, which is a dream come true for Jayhawks fans. Their new material almost sounds like something recorded live in an intimate venue. Producer Chris Robinson wisely keeps the focus on the singers' harmonies and the spare, stripped-down instrumentation rather than adding anything distracting to the mix. The breezy, self-assured songs amble by at a slow pace, taking their time to unfold. There are the typical tales of woe but also songs of hope and faith. This is music at its most timeless, folk in its purest form. These two musicians have seen life's ups and downs over their respective careers, and their music can't help but reflect that.

If there are any drawbacks to Olson and Louris's new approach to their musical partnership, it would only be that there is a certain sameiness to much of the material. Although the band does break up the quieter acoustic numbers with some mild foot-stompers ("Chamberlain, SD" is the closest thing to a rocker on here), many of the songs do take a similar tone and blur together upon a first or second listen. I am thinking that this album will require multiple listens to fully reveal all of its virtues, which is something that I have found to be true for the Jayhawks' material as well (the same can also be said for Gary Louris's other band, Golden Smog). In fact, sometimes it is this type of album that ends up making the most lasting impression on me (Weird Tales and Hollywood Town Hall have in fact become two of my very favorite albums over the years).

I think overall this new release sits nicely alongside the duo's other efforts from the Jayhawks years. If you enjoy this type of music, the strong compositions and carefully crafted lyrics will subtly weave their way into your consciousness. That is the mark of a truly great work of art, which is what this pair have once again produced.

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Stands up with the BEST of the Jayhawks stuff, November 15, 2008

By 

freereign (Ocean of Corn, MN) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Ready for the Flood (Audio CD)

It doesn't sound like the Jayhawks, other than in the obvious vocal "univoice" this duo was known for on those albums. It's two fellas singing and playing together (actually recorded without headphones). Lots of fingerpicking on accoustic guitars.
As is, it's simply wonderful. Plainly presented, it was recorded mostly "live" so any "mistakes" were left alone by producer Chris Robinson.
You should own this. Seeing the live performance of this material confirmed it's as good as anything they did with the Jayhawks, but this one's a whole lot mellower. Think Everly Bros., Simon & Garfunkel, America and Gram Parsons by way of Incredible String Band. Recorded before each of their solo albums, which, incidently, are worth getting for sure as well.

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Togeather Again..., January 28, 2009

By 

Joseph Stark "Joe" (Salt Lake City, UT USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Ready For The Flood (Audio CD)

Great new album from legendary members of The Jayhawks. It's so great to hear these two on the same CD again, they were born to sing togeather.