1. These Things 2. Black & Blue 3. River Bends 4. Highway Flowers 5. Anybody's Only 6. That's The Game 7. Ivy 8. Girl/World 9. Ocaso Rosa 10. Just Like You 11. Plaything
This shimmering sleeper of a solo debut should surprise even diehard fans of the Jayhawks, the band in which Tim O'Reagan played a comparatively low-profile role as the drummer. Here, his homespun pop with psychedelic glimmers features lush harmonies, buoyant melodies, offbeat arrangements (including his dad as guest whistler on the opening "These Days"), and multi-instrumental overdubbing by O'Reagan (supported by Jayhawks alums and kindred spirits). The results suggest an unlikely blend of a rootsier Left Banke, a cheerier Elliott Smith, and a heartland George Harrison. The yearning "River Bends," with its steel guitar, would have been a highlight on any Jayhawks album. --Don McLeese
