Vagabonds

For anyone who likes The Jayhawks (if not, why not?) this solo offering will find a happy home. If you're a Dylan fan, listen! This could be a new groove in a well-travelled road. Gary Louris takes to the road alone, and makes it a path worth treading.
These old ears were weaned on Dylan, then came a love of The Eagles, and latterly they came to find the Jayhawks. Now comes a new kid on the black to make me sit up and take notice.
As a lifelong Chelsea fan, I like True Blue before I even heard it. However, the imaginitive lyrics draw a picture that matches a gravel voice with soulful guitars to make great music. The title track, Vagabonds, has a sweet harmonica opening reminiscent of my old hero - but the song heralds the birth of a new star in the musical heavens.
Lyrically, this album is superb - a simple storyteller selling his wares and sounding happy to be doing it. I just wish he'd been at The Isle of Wight Festival all those years ago - he's have gone down a storm.

Amazing album. There is literally no justice in the fact that Gary Louris has slipped under most peoples radar (I could at this point name a number of popular singer/songwriters taking up far to much radio time...but I wont...well, maybe one, Mr. Blunt). Good music is still out there and this is a great place to start. If I were to compare him to anything, it's dificult but I guess he reminds me a little of Elliot Smith, Gram Parsons & Neil Young which isn't bad company to be in.