Song of the Day: The Jayhawks - Quiet Corners & Empty Spaces

Every Monday through Friday, we deliver a different song as part of our Song of the Day podcast subscription. This podcast features exclusive KEXP in-studio performances, unreleased songs, and recordings from independent artists that our DJ’s think you should hear. Today’s song, featured on the Midday Show with Cheryl Waters, is “Quiet Corners & Empty Spaces” by The Jayhawks from their forthcoming release, Paging Mr. Proust, due April 29th on Thirty Tigers.

• The Jayhawks - Quiet Corners & Empty Spaces (MP3)

Twin Cities band The Jayhawks have had many opportunities to get caught up in the past and call it quits. With Mark Olson's second departure from the band after a 2011 album release that Gary Louris felt left much to be desired, it seemed as good a time as any. But the band is a resilient force, as their upcoming album, Paging Mr. Proust, proves. Co-produced by R.E.M.'s Peter Buck and Portland's Tucker Martine, the album is both a satisfying nod to the past and a positive step towards the future. It embodies many of the same country-roots song writing elements the band established itself with, but it does not try to force a reiteration of a past version of the band. Instead, an uptick in production along with the occasional synth or organ replace the space left by the absence of Olson and Louris's harmonies, providing an equally pleasant new experience that still stays loyal to The Jayhawks time-tested sound. Album single and song of the day "Quiet Corners & Empty Spaces" embodies this perfectly. On it, Louris' airy vocals and dusty guitar tones recall the sounds of times past, while an organ and background vocals keep the catchy chorus company. By the time a bending guitar solo plays the song out, it's clear that Louris and crew have successfully found and filled all the empty spaces that lineup shuffles and the progress of time can offer. Like a successful high school reunion, The Jayhawks have managed to simultaneously reminisce on old times and show off how well they have aged.

Unfortunately, The Jayhawks have no planned upcoming concert dates in Seattle, but keep an eye on their Facebook and website in case of an updated tour schedule. In the meantime, check out the band play their 2003 track "Tailspin" live in the KEXP studio below: