Mark Olson, along with Gary Louris, was once part of the duo-fronted group The Jayhawks. He left the band shortly after the release of Tomorrow The Green Grass to spend more time with then-wife Victoria Williams and release some lesser known albums along the way.I consider The Salvation Blues to be Olson's comeback album. It's got his signature alt-country twang and some Jayhawks-like harmonies. In fact, Louris even shows up in some of the songs.
My favorite tracks on this album are "Clifton Bridge", "Poor Michael's Boat", and "Look Into The Night." This is yet another album I love playing during any significant time traveling in the car.
Olson's voice is somewhat of an acquired taste but once you get used to is you'll appreciate his unique sound and phrasing. When he and ex-wife Williams put out a few albums as the The Original Harmony Ridge Creek Dippers it was almost too much since their voices are so similar (She's got a far goofier voice however).
I've heard that Louris and Olson have been doing a few shows together in the past year. Here's to hoping they can follow the lead of the Blues Brothers and get the band back together, man!
Listen to this album
It's interesting to hear a Mark Olson solo album. You can hear how influential he was to the earlier Jayhawks sound. This collection reminds me of the Hollywood Town Hall era. Tomorrow the Green Grass still shows plenty of Olson's influence, but has a little less Olson twang and some more Louris "pop/rock" influence.
ReplyDeleteI did like some of the Harmony Ridge Creek Dippers stuff (much more tolerable compared to Victoria Williams' solo stuff), but I think I like Olson's latest release a little better as a whole package.
My sentiments exactly. I liked some of the HRCD tunes, and really loved the tune they did on that Gram Parson's tribute album, but I feel Olson's solo stuff is much better. I have tried to like Victoria's stuff but I just can't do it. It's tough to listen to more than one song.
ReplyDeleteI remember thinking when The Jayhawks "Sound of Lies" came out "Who needs Mark Olson?" But now I realize how big of a part he was to the original sound. Would be interesting to hear Louris and Olson doing some of the newer Jayhawks songs.