Smile is an album by the American alternative country and rock band The Jayhawks, released in 2000. It reached #129 on the Billboard 200 and #14 on Billboard's Top Internet Albums chart.
Smile marks a move away from the band's long-time alt-country stylings to a more pop approach.
[edit] Reception
A number of critics mentioned the change in sound of Smile. In his review for Allmusic, critic John Duffy praised the album and wrote "The general shift in direction may alienate a few long-term fans, but much like friends Wilco achieved with their adventurous Summerteeth, Smile's modern touches may bring even more people into the band's orbit. What never changes on the Jayhawks' albums, it seems, are the blissful melodies and well-constructed tunes, and that may just be enough for even the toughest critics."[1] Music critic Robert Christgau gave the album a C rating, writing "...now they're as vapid as late Poco and then some. Although specifics do assert themselves, like when the drummer sings or the inspirational title cut references some northern clime, Gary Louris's boys aspire to the generalization level of transcendentalist parlor ballads, Hallmark cards, and, increasingly, Music Row."[2] Critic David Browne of Pitchfork wrote of the album "If hardcore Mark Olson-era Jayhawks' fans felt betrayed by the dark pop of 1997's Sound of Lies, they'll be downright vigilant after hearing Smile."[3]
[edit] Track listing
- "Smile" (Gary Louris) – 3:50
- "I'm Gonna Make You Love Me" (Louris, Taylor Rhodes) – 3:40
- "What Led Me to This Town" (Karen Grotberg, Marc Perlman, Gary Louris, Tim O'Reagan) – 4:09
- "Somewhere in Ohio" (Bob Ezrin, Louris, O'Reagan) – 3:39
- "A Break in the Clouds" (Grotberg, Louris, O'Reagan) – 3:59
- "Queen of the World" (Ezrin, Louris) – 2:35
- "Life Floats By" (Louris, Marc Perlman) – 4:42
- "Broken Harpoon" (Louris) – 3:31
- "Pretty Thing" (Louris, Perlman) – 4:18
- "Mr. Wilson" (Louris, O'Reagan) – 4:26
- "(In My) Wildest Dreams" (Ezrin, Louris, Perlman) – 4:30
- "Better Days" (Louris) – 4:36
- "Baby, Baby, Baby" (Louris) – 5:19
[edit] Personnel
- Gary Louris – guitar, vocals
- Karen Grotberg – keyboards, vocals
- Marc Perlman – bass, vocals
- Tim O'Reagan – drums, percussion, vocals
- Kraig Johnson – guitar
Additional musicians:
- Bob Ezrin – synthesizer, percussion, accordion, keyboards, vocals, string arrangements
- Eric Heywood – dobro, pedal steel guitar
- Armadillo String Quartet – strings
- Patrick Seymour – synthesizer
[edit] Production notes
- Bob Ezrin – producer
- Ed Ackerson – programming, engineer
- Leon Zervos – mastering
- Joseph Bishara – programming
- Richard Werbowenko – programming
- Jay Healy – engineer, mixing
- Ok Hee Kim – assistant engineer
- Jonathan Sacks – orchestration, string arrangements
- David Katzenstein – cover photo
- Ken Schles – photography
- Josh Cheuse – art direction
- Andy Wolf – studio technician
[edit] References
[edit] External links
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| Studio albums |
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| Gary Louris – Solo |
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| Mark Olson – Solo |
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| Mark Olson & Gary Louris |
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| Compilations |
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| Related articles |
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