Hollywood Town Hall

iTunes Review

The Jayhawks slid into the popular consciousness at the same time the grunge scene was exploding. The classic-rock sound of the album’s opener, “Waiting for the Sun,” made more potent by the major label production of Rick Rubin protégé George Drakoulias, was a perfect counterpunch to the angst around it. The band’s earth tones — accentuated by Tom Petty’s keyboardist, Benmont Tench, and the Rolling Stones’ keys-man, Nicky Hopkins — are brought into compelling view by the harmonies of Gary Louris and Mark Olson. Their musical relationship went on hiatus after the next album, but the songs they crafted and sang together — “Crowded In the Wings,” “Two Angels” and “Settled Down Like Rain” — are the logical sons of Gram Parsons and the Eagles. The 2011 re-master features sparkling sound and five bonus tracks, including the obscure B-sides, “Keith and Quentin” and “Up Above My Head,” and two previously unreleased studio outtakes, “Warm River” and “Mother Trust You,” that all further emphasize the roots-rock end of the band.