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Rainy Day Music - The Jayhawks
Metascore
73 out of 100

Generally favorable reviews - based on 16 Critics

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 12 out of 16
  2. Mixed: 4 out of 16
  3. Negative: 0 out of 16
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  1. E! Online
    91
    With loads of acoustic guitars and the Jayhawks' winsome country harmonies, this album looks back to the sound of Crosby, Stills & Nash.
  2. Entertainment Weekly
    83
    Folk-rock laced with banjos, accordions, and pedal steel, ''Music'' is the roots move one suspects fans have wanted for years, its classic rock flavor echoing the Byrds, CSNY, and Poco.
  3. Uncut
    80
    It's all acoustic guitars, rich jangling melodies and heavenly harmonies. [May 2003, p.102]
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  4. Rolling Stone
    80
    There isn't much music on your radio dial that sounds so quintessentially bittersweet; the Jayhawks' old-fashioned gift is that they can make being lost sound sort of nice.
  5. Nude As The News
    80
    To long-time Jayhawks fans, the new album -- almost entirely acoustic -- is a welcome return to form.
  6. Austin Chronicle
    78
    These are tunes that would've fit perfectly on Top 40 radio in the Seventies.
  7. Spin
    75
    Mark Olson's harmonies are missed, but Gary Louris' shaky/sweet vocals suit the album's rueful vibe. [May 2003, p.116]
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  8. Epilogue Music
    71
    Despite the weak point of O'Reagan's songs, Rainy Day Music succeeds better than any Jayhawks release since the band's last masterpiece with Mark Olson, Tomorrow the Green Grass.
  9. Blender
    70
    A gorgeous, streamlined piece of acoustic Americana, beautiful and fully realized. [May 2003, p.120]
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  10. Billboard
    70
    It's hard to find fault with such a well-crafted record, but one does wonder what would happen if the Jayhawks cranked up the amps a notch.
  11. Magnet
    70
    Louris' vision is still pretty much stuck in 1992. [#58, p.94]
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  12. Pitchfork
    61
    The group envelops the different elements of music available to them-- from folk, to rock, to Gram Parsons-influenced pop-- in such a way that is alternately enjoyable and excessively off-putting.
  13. Stylus Magazine
    60
    The problem with this kind of record is not that it’s hard to find fault with, but that it’s hard to get excited about.
  14. Mojo
    60
    There are times... when the stripping-down of The Jayhawks' aesthetic reveals [Gary Louris'] designs to be uncomfortably slight. [Apr 2003, p.92]
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  15. Amazon.com
    60
    Even with its share of jangle-pop gems, the disc also offers a few bland strummers that never quite take off.
  16. All Music Guide
    50
    The first six tracks are all vintage Louris gems -- trembling and honest, with warm melodies and hooks for days. Unfortunately, the album stumbles in the second half.
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User Reviews

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User Score
9.0 out of 10

Universal acclaim- based on 16 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 12 out of 13
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 13
  3. Negative: 0 out of 13
  1. manurock
    8
    A very good album by Alternative Country and Pop-Rock band "The Jayhawks". In this album, the electric guitars, soundscapes and keyboards hardly ever appear and the acoustic guitar becomes the lead instrument. Some very good songs like "Angelyne", "Save it for a rainy day" or Tim O'Reagan's "Tailspin" (or should we say Bob Dylan's) and other incomplete and even boring songs like "All the right reasons". Yes, it isn't as strong as the country-rock "Tomorrow the Green Grass" or the psychedelic "Sound of lies" but all Jayhawk, pop or acoustic rock fans should have a listen. ps: they have rejoined so I suggest you go and see them on their shows!… Full Review »
  2. ricocc
    9
    An underrated album by all of the so called "music critics". While there may be other albums by the band with some better songs, this is definitely the Jayhawks' best from top to bottom. Very catchy, very melodic, very good harmonies and very addicting!… Full Review »
  3. pablor
    10
    superb album full of brillant songs. Ican´t stop listenning to it!
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