Today, acclaimed singer, songwriter, guitarist and producer Gary Louris announces his third solo album Dark Country, releasing on February 14 via Sham/Thirty Tigers. Inspired by and dedicated to his wife Stephanie, this is the most intimate and romantic album from The Jayhawks’ frontman. The first single released today, “Getting Older” is an acoustic ode to the courage it takes to move out of the gray area and pursue true happiness.
“‘Getting Older’ is a song about that gray area of a relationship…it’s neither awful nor transcendent, neither loving nor abusive,” says Louris. “It’s about the courage it may take to extricate oneself from that relationship to pursue true happiness, knowing life is too short to settle for anything less.”
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,” he 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, which netted praise from Rolling Stone, The New York Times, No Depression and more.
In addition to leading The Jayhawks, Louris is also one of the founding members of alt-rock supergroup Golden Smog, which has included members of Soul Asylum, Wilco, The Replacements and Big Star. He has produced records and contributed songs to GRAMMY Award-winning albums by Tedeschi Trucks Band and The Chicks, and recorded with a diverse group of acts including The Black Crowes, Uncle Tupelo, Joe Henry, Counting Crows, John Hiatt, Lucinda Williams, Roger McGuinn, Nickel Creek and The Wallflowers.
Dark Country Tracklist
1. Getting Older
2. Couldn’t Live a Day Without You
3. Dead Porcupine
4. By Your Side
5. Living On My Phone
6. Blow ‘Em Away
7. Redefining Love
8. Better To Walk Than To Run
9. Listening to Bobby Charles
10. Two Birds
11. Helping Hand
12. Perfect Day
