The Jayhawks - Blue Earth (2003)

The songs which make up Blue Earth originated as demos, and save for some minor studio tinkering, are presented here in their original embryonic state. As a consequence, the record lacks punch; spare and economical, the songs are simply too primitive to come to life in this setting. Nonetheless, the growth of the band's songwriting skills over their debut is substantial; while many of the themes -- drifting, drinking, and lost love -- remain the same, they're handled with greater insight and clarity than before, with a keen eye for detail and nuance.