Gary Louris: Vagabonds

Here's

the obvious first question about a solo artist's first release after the

breakup of a well-known band: How much, if at all, will it sound like the old

band With Vagabonds, former Jayhawks leader Gary Louris takes a few careful steps

away from the sounds of the alt-country pioneers—just enough to shine a

new light without moving too far from what he's proven to excel at. Eager to

capture the spirit of the 1970s singer-songwriter scene, Louris recorded Vagabonds in Los Angeles' Laurel

Canyon area—where musicians like Jackson Browne and Crosby, Stills &

Nash hung out back in the day—gathering a group of backing musicians

including The Bangles' Susanna Hoffs and Rilo Kiley's Jenny Lewis. Producer

Chris Robinson of The Black Crowes helps Louris steer the album toward classic

rock, but except for the soaring harmonies that were a Jayhawks staple, Vagabonds is marked by the

hallmarks of Louris' style: beautiful melodies, both winsome and sad. It's

probably too introspective to make much of a splash outside his established fan

base, but it certainly shouldn't lose him any fans either.