Back in the early 1990s, Gary Louris was already contemplating a solo career that wouldn't come for another 15 years. Today, Louris knows what it's like on both sides of the fence. The former Jayhawks frontman's first solo album, "Vagabonds," got its national release Tuesday on Rykodisc. Produced by Black Crowes singer Chris Robinson, the disc is a shade grayer and noticeably mellower than his old band's blue melodic twang.
Louris opted to record in Los Angeles with an all-new group of musicians instead of his Minneapolis cronies. "Without insulting the locals -- because I love them all and have played with many great people here -- I didn't want it to be Gary Louris & the Program," he said, referring to the musicians that his Golden Smog pal Kraig Johnson uses as backers. "I'll work with all those guys again, for sure."
Robinson rounded up a few friends to sing backup, including Rilo Kiley singer Jenny Lewis and her boyfriend, Johnathan Rice. Louris also brought in longtime friend Susanna Hoffs of the Bangles. The guests added high-reaching choirlike harmonies on a few tracks. Mostly, though, "Vagabonds" is an intimate affair, played largely on acoustic guitar and piano with spring-jacket-light layers of organ and pedal-steel. The latter half of the album is especially somber and hushed.
"I focused on the things I think I'm good at, which is singing and writing," Louris said. "Sometimes with the Jayhawks -- and this was totally my own fault -- you'd have trouble hearing me sing. I've never really made a quiet, intimate acoustic record. 'Rainy Day Music' was like that a bit, but not as much as this.
"Some people were like, 'This is your chance to be more experimental, or to rock out more.' I'll probably do that a bit, but later."
