Blue Earth

Jayhawks

Product Details

• Audio CD (April 11, 1995)
• Original Release Date: 1989
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Twintone
• ASIN: B0000018VH
• Also Available in: Audio Cassette
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #125,069 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com essential recording
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

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Probably the Last Recording of it's Kind!, May 4, 2000

By	Ed Davis (Philly, PA) - See all my reviews

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!

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 (New Hampshire) - See all my reviews

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.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A timeless classic...., October 30, 2003

By	Frederick C. Sechler Jr. (Edgartown, MA USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Theres no getting around it, with or without Mark Olson, The Jayhawks are undisputedly some of the most talented musicians in the music world today. It is interesting to see the evolution of their sound, almost starting with this cd (their first cd is rare, and few people have it). "Blue earth" is mesmorizing in its rich, organic, country-pop sound...Yes, the sound is country but still instinctly pop, and the songs resinate over and over in your head. Its a good thing, because these songs are incredibly well written with a raw energy. Once you get a taste of this album, you will hear these songs over and over again in your head, and you will want to play the album repeatedly. This one is a real classic, perhaps a one of a kind sound that stands alone compared with other alt-country music giants like Uncle Tupelo, Gram Parsons, Lucinda Williams, Whiskeytown, etc..I have plenty of alt-country music cds, and this one is unique. How can such musicians blend pop, rock, and country so well? These guys have done it for a long time...and even though "Rainy Day Music" is far away from "Blue Earth" in sound, you can still hear the genuine quality songwriting and pop eloquency that reigns with every album.