American Midnight - the new single from Sanctuary Park is out now
The Jayhawks Release New Single, âAmerican Midnightâ New Album, Sanctuary Park, Out August 28th via Thirty Tigers North American Headline Tour This Fall
âThe bouncy pop of the lead single [âKeeping Our Heads Above Waterâ] leans on the two things the mostly Minnesota band has always done best: singer Gary Lourisâs plainspoken melancholy and those gorgeous, honeyed three-part harmonies.â â Garden & Gun " A bouncy pop-rocker that...waves the flag for The Jayhawksâ enduring alt-country importance." â Steven Hyden, Evil Speakers (on âKeeping Our Heads Above Waterâ)
âAmerican Midnight,â the second single from The Jayhawks' forthcoming album, Sanctuary Park (out August 28th via Thirty Tigers) is out now. Sanctuary Park has a definite sense of place. Not only was it recorded in Canada with a Canadian producer, Bob Ezrin, and Canadian engineers in a Canadian studio, but lyrically there are numerous references specific to Canada. After marrying his wife Stephanie, a born and bred proud Canadian, Gary Louris became a permanent resident, giving him a somewhat unique view and perspective that has contributed to the content of these songs, like on todayâs single âAmerican Midnight,â which features a needle-perfect pop melody and lush three-part harmonies.
Reflecting on the track, Louris says: "Iâm not one to write political diatribes, so read into this what you will. But living up here north of the border gives one a certain perspective most Americans might not have."
Listen to âAmerican Midnightâ
For Sanctuary Park, The Jayhawks reunited with the legendary Bob Ezrin (Pink Floyd, Peter Gabriel, Alice Cooper, Lou Reed), who produced their 2000 album Smile, a âclassic,â according to The New York Times. When he heard Gary Louris was seeking a producer Ezrin immediately signed on, and invited the band to his hometown of Toronto to record. âI love their music,â says Ezrin. âThere is gentleness and a sweetness to their sound, and I found myself craving a little bit more of that.â
A conscious decision was made to highlight the strengths of the band â Lourisâs songwriting, the bandâs trademarked three-part harmonies, and the intuitive interplay between Louris, keyboard player Karen Grotberg, drummer Tim OâReagan and bassist Marc Perlman. This interplay only comes with years of playing together, creating their own musical vocabulary. âGet us in a room together and thereâs no one better; we have a certain musical magic that happens without even a word or a discussion.â Playing live in the studio made this record what it is... a time, a place, music of the moment.Â
Sanctuary Park arrives at a momentous time for the band as they celebrate their 40th year â the Jayhawks self-titled first record (known to fans as The Bunkhouse Album) was released in 1986. The Jayhawks have played most every major music festival, from Farm Aid to Primavera Sound, Pinkpop to Wilcoâs Sky Blue Sky. In the tradition of The Band and Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers, The Jayhawks have toured with and served as backup band for many of musicâs most acclaimed visionaries, including Ray Davies, Roger McGuinn, and Johnny Cash.Â
This fall, The Jayhawks will embark on a North American tour. Tickets are now on sale and available here.
Listen:Â
âAmerican Midnightâ
âKeeping Our Heads Above Waterâ
Pre-Order Sanctuary Park
