Customer Reviews

Smile

5 star:		(38)
4 star:		(27)
3 star:		(10)
2 star:		(7)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Bob Ezrin, legendary producer for Pink Floyd, Alice Cooper, Kiss and Lou Reed among others, touches this album with a subtle production that suits the album's subdued sound and superb songwriting. Every song offers a chorus thick enough to sink your teeth into, with lonely piano or guitar accompaniments that just leap out of the songs and hook your ears. While every song showcases this group's writing talent, tracks like "Smile," "Ohio" and "I'm Gonna Make You Love Me" exhibit heavanly singing and background vocals that sound very much like the Traveling Wilbury's at times. The music is mature and atmospheric, the songwriting is hot, the vocals are always confident, and this is yet another great Jayhawks release. With the acsessible pop feel to this record, I cannot imagine it disappointing anyone, new fan or old.

A significant departure from their earlier work, Smile offers a more produced and mainstream sound. Purists of their work might be disappointed and argue that they sold out their original sound. I disagree.

A worthy comparison might be looking at the growth of REM from the roots flavored rock of their earlier albums to the breakout hits Green and Out of Time. In my opinion, Smile makes this transition more successfully than REM by appealing to a new audience without giving up the intensity and creativity of their music.

"I'm Going To Make You Love Me" is a fun pop song that might lose its appeal over time but, other songs like the title track, "Somewhere In Ohio", and my personal favorite "Baby, Baby" are as energetic and spirited of tunes that the band has ever produced.

The slower, folksier, "What Led Me To This Town", "Break in The Clouds," and "Mr. Wilson" provide the perfect balance by showing the band and its most poignant.

A true follower of the Jayhawks will still see the underlying themes of their previous work. This album is far from a sell out, in fact it may be their best yet.

Who cares about production or selling out? I used too but not anymore. I've reached a point in my life where if the music is good, I'll listen to it. Not to say I listen to just any album, I'm still some what selective. Take this album for example. I love The Jayhawks early stuff, it's raw but their new stuff has merit too. You can feel a totally different band on Smile. A band that is trying to find it's place after Mark Olson left. That's not a bad thing, it fact it's great. We, the listener, get a chance to see a group of Artist evolve into a new creature. I wouldn't say The Jayhawks were trying to sell out or get radio play with this album, I think they were just trying something different. Be supportive and give this album a shot. Who says all of a bands albums have to sound the same? Not me.

"Wake up/Put your shoes on/Take a breath of the northern air/And rub those eyes/Genuflect beneath the starry skies". Thus opens Smile, The Jayhawks' sixth album in 15 years, their definitive masterpiece. It is also the new millennium's best album so far. Smile is so brimful of strong melodies and convincing work that it almost redefines rock music as we know it. The Jayhawks today is in my humble ears the best rock band on the planet. The 13 songs that constitute Smile are with a few exceptions absolutely remarkeable, whether we're talking about the melodies, lyrics, arrangements or production. There are also harmonies you wouldn't belive. Smile is one of those records you really NEED, that you must live with and enjoy. And if you don't like it, there is something wrong with you, alright?

I discovered the Jayhawks a few years back when "Blue" was getting a lot of radio airplay--shamefully, the only Jayhawks song that I've ever heard on the radio. Intrigued, and absolutely haunted by that song--which still brings tears to my eyes everytime I hear it--I bought "Tomorrow the Green Grass". Wow. And WOW. We have nearly worn the pixels off of it. My second acquisition was "Hollywood Town Hall", which is more country, more mellow, but less melancholy to my ear. But more WOW.

I was never able to convince my wife--she was not fond of the group's vocals, terming them "harsh", an uncharitable but sometimes accurate description. But we caught their act live here in Louisville two nights ago, and they simply destroyed us. Blew us both away.

These guys are top-flight, first-rate musicians, with command of the stage and of their craft. Their performance was heavy with "Smile" songs, not surprisingly, and they had the audience in their hip pocket from the first bar to the last encore. Simply put, the best live band I have ever seen of any size in any venue. And they warmed my heart by finishing with a slightly edgier and brighter rendition of "Blue"--but I still was dabbing my eyes.

"Smile", which we bought after the performance, has taken the 3rd slot in our multi-disc changer, and we hope to have de-pixelated it in a few days. We simply cannot get these guys out of our heads--and you won't, either, if you love heartfelt, beautifully realized music from the soul and the gut. These guys are a must for any music lover of any genre, and "Smile" is a worthy addition to their catalogue.

I discovered the Jayhawks through 'Smile.' It's one of my favorite albums ever, by anyone -- all I can say is it turns up in my cd player all the time. It's sort of like Hank Williams, Lennon-McCartney, Bob Dylan and (at times) Jimmy Page all jammed together to create something completely new and unique. I've since gone back and have heard all their albums, and they're all great. It's interesting to see how the band has evolved. This is a band that should have a much, much (MUCH!) broader audience. Can't recommend it highly enough. Or you could, you know, keep listening to the crap that's on the radio...

A strange match of artist and producer but, opposites attract! Drum machines, tape loops and multi layers actually make this record something a little different and quite interesting. Still showing their roots but moving forward in the pop realm (similar to Sound of Lies) these songs are solid, catchy and sung beatifully (as usual). Anyone who didn't 'get it' on the first listen needs to put this record back in the CD player, sit back, open your ears, and forget about focusing on the country twang riffs that you've grown to expect from this band. They can still do it, it's just that now it's time for growth. And, they're keeping it interesting by not rehashing the same old sounds.

These guys have been around for nearly 10 years and have a catalog of solid albums. But with this one, they emerge as one of those top-shelf American groups, like REM or Counting Crows. Leaning a little more towards country than pop on their previous albums, here they tilt back towards pop and rock & roll to our delight. They still throw in some country stuff every now and then, apparently just to say "nyah-nyah" to the pap that's piped out of Nashville these days. These are complex yet memorably hummable (or is that hummably memorable?) songs. Vocal harmonies that make the hair on ones neck arise. Chiming guitars and full, rich orchestral arrangements. Beautiful and exciting rock and roll music.

Smile is the bands most commercial record but that doesn't mean it's still not great. All the essential Jayhawks elements are here: Perfect three part harmonies and excellent guitar playing along with big majestic melodies. The band takes the Sound of Lies formula another step further into the world of great pop music. These guys have finally shaken their alt-country label and risen way above it. As for the hip hop reports some songs have gotten from other reviewers - don't believe it. There's nothing remotely hip hop on this record. This is true roots rock and roll with a nice big dose of pop - even if it does have a few drum machines mixed in. Still not convinced: see the Jayhawks on their current tour - you're in for a real treat - possibly the best live band America has to offer these days.

'Sound of Lies' was such a completely underappreciated masterpiece of an album. The serious fans that grew up with rock and roll recognized it, but had to be content chalking up yet another notch to unfairness. Gary's lyrics, voice, and guitar never was more honest and cutting - from the opening chords of 'the man who loved life' mixed with hope and invitation ["won't you take my hand"] thru the despair of trying but never hitting the limelight in 'dying on the vine' to the admittance of the inevitability that some dreams maybe won't come true in 'sound of lies'. Some of his fans seemed alienated by the powerpop arrangements, but others (especially those of us who knew his roots) immediately understood this was a personal record that needed to break formula - or it wouldn't be honest. Gary was being true to his heroes, his friends, his band, and himself from start to finish. Sound of Lies was Gary's grand exploration of mid-life crisis - baring his soul while silently imploring all of us to hang in there, to not give up, and to stay true - to give us (and him) the strength to continue. In summary, a brilliantly crafted and powerful pop album. So, the verdic on the followup? Breaking all the rules again, Louris and the Jayhawks and Ezrin have stayed true to this (friend and) fan by providing a tapestry of surprises, pop references, and powered up fun. Smile really shows at each turn how much they are student's of rock and roll and reinforce how influencial and studied they'll be in rock history. First impressions are sometimes deceiving when it comes to records, so I'm always careful about jumping to conclusions. But the first few spins have not disappointed these ears and my intuition has a big star kind of smile. I'll write again when this one has sunk in some more, but be assured, if you don't buy 'Smile', you are missing out on some extraordinary music by a truely great band!