I'd expect a solo album by The Jayhawks' co-founder to be of a piece with that excellent band's catalogue, and Vagabonds certainly is. The music here is quiet, smart and soulful country-rock, with gospel-infused flourishes and Louris' voice front and center. Vocal support by the Laurel Canyon Family Choir (!) - Susanna Hoffs, Jenny Lewis, The Chapin Sisters, producer Chris Robinson, and more - contributes to the album's late '60s vibe, replicating that era's breezy all-together-now camaraderie. In some ways, that's not far removed from The Jayhawks, existing outside of traditions and trends, blessed with two distinctive lead singers, and tasteful accompaniment by the rest of the group. But Vagabonds is casually, even seductively laconic, barer than anything Louris has done before. Thankfully, Robinson's production approach isn't self-consciously retro, which The Black Crowes could sometimes be guilty of when, for example, showing off a ragged Faces fixation; instead, it's refreshingly vibrant, with subtle and understated touches, including whirling Leslie speaker guitar effects, fuzzy harmonica, and funky organ fills. Louris' house band builds the songs around acoustic piano, pedal steel, drums, organ and acoustic guitar, with co-producer and engineer Thom Monahan making sure everything blends together warmly and naturally in the mix.
--Larry O. Dean
