Iconic Minneapolis band The Jayhawks could be credited with kickstarting the re-interest in cosmic American music with their yearning roots music and classic albums Hollywood Town Hall and Tomorrow the Green Grass. Led by songwriters/harmonizers Gary Louris and Mark Olson, the Jayhawks found great critical acclaim although commercial success eluded them. But in 1995, Mark left the Jayhawks to pursue a simpler life in the desert, first by making music with his then wife, Victoria Williams and their band, the Creekdippers, and subsequently as a solo artist, including the recent Salvation Blues. Louris continued the Jayhawks for a decade, writing and recording Sound of Lies, Smile and Rainy Day Music, as well as recently writing material for the Dixie Chicks’ Grammy-nominated album, Taking the Long Way. He has produced acts ranging from the Juno-nominated Sadies to Sarah Lee Guthrie and Johnny Irion. He also recently released his own critically acclaimed solo album, Vagabonds.
Although they’ve toured together and renewed their friendship, this is the first recording by Olson and Louris since Olson left the Jayhawks. What would become Ready for the Flood was recorded at Sage & Sound Studios in Hollywood with friend Chris Robinson of the Black Crowes (who also worked on Vagabonds). Louris had called in Robinson, who happened to be in town at that point, for "vibe support" and he ended up producing the album; he also appears on the album playing harmonica and contributing backing vocals.
Ready for the Flood captures the stripped down, fingerpicked guitar playing and Laurel Canyon sound of an earlier time, with allusions to English folk — Bert Jansch, Nick Drake, John Renbourne, whom both Mark and Gary had both been getting into independently — and a simpler, live recording technique where capturing the right vibe was as important as the sound. It’s an album that only two career musicians and friends could make – organic, intuitive and loosely confident, heartfelt and moving, echoing with the combined experience of two kindred spirit reuniting to do what they do – and love – best.
