Third solo album from singer, songwriter, guitarist and producer Gary Louris, inspired by and dedicated to his wife Stephanie, this is the most intimate and romantic album from The Jayhawks’ frontman.
Over the last three decades, Gary Louris has built a deeply compelling body of work, earning the loyalty of an international audience and the respect of both critics and his peers. Best known for his seminal work with The Jayhawks, he is one of the most acclaimed musicians to come out of Minnesota’s vibrant rock scene. After meeting his wife, Stephanie, and moving with her to a small town outside of Montreal, he found the inspiration for his third solo album Dark Country. The result is an album that is front-to-back the most romantic of Louris’ career.
“Dark Country is a love letter to my wife Steph, plain and simple,” Louris explains. “It was written and recorded in my little studio in our home in the mountains of Quebec. Just my guitar and my voice, occasionally piano, and on two songs a bit of magic from my friends. It is the most intimate and straightforward record I have ever made. Just me in a room with my songs and you the listener. I am not typically an autobiographical lyricist but these songs are as literal as can be... all directed to my love."
Dark Country is built around Louris’ own guitar and piano, with assistance from a few friends including pedal steel and guitar from occasional Jayhawk Stephen McCarthy (The Long Ryders) and a string arrangement by Eleanor Whitmore of The Mastersons, as well as mixing by Paul Kolderie (Hole, The Pixies, Uncle Tupelo). The album follows his two previous solo records, 2008’s Vagabonds and the more recent 2021 release Jump For Joy.
Over the last three decades, Gary Louris has built a deeply compelling body of work, earning the loyalty of an international audience and the respect of both critics and his peers. Best known for his seminal work with The Jayhawks, he is one of the most acclaimed musicians to come out of Minnesota’s vibrant rock scene. After meeting his wife, Stephanie, and moving with her to a small town outside of Montreal, he found the inspiration for his third solo album Dark Country. The result is an album that is front-to-back the most romantic of Louris’ career.
“Dark Country is a love letter to my wife Steph, plain and simple,” Louris explains. “It was written and recorded in my little studio in our home in the mountains of Quebec. Just my guitar and my voice, occasionally piano, and on two songs a bit of magic from my friends. It is the most intimate and straightforward record I have ever made. Just me in a room with my songs and you the listener. I am not typically an autobiographical lyricist but these songs are as literal as can be... all directed to my love."
Dark Country is built around Louris’ own guitar and piano, with assistance from a few friends including pedal steel and guitar from occasional Jayhawk Stephen McCarthy (The Long Ryders) and a string arrangement by Eleanor Whitmore of The Mastersons, as well as mixing by Paul Kolderie (Hole, The Pixies, Uncle Tupelo). The album follows his two previous solo records, 2008’s Vagabonds and the more recent 2021 release Jump For Joy.
