17. March 2025
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Media Review

Gary Louris – Dark Country

Florian Buechtingby Florian Buechting

Gary Louris - Dark Country

Gary Louris - Dark Country
4.1

Rating

 4.1/5

Flyctory.com Pros

  • Lovely songwriting with personal stories
  • Great voice

Flyctory.com Cons

  • Slight lack of "special" moments on the instrumental side

Gary Louris is a quite well-known artist in the alternative country and rock music scene. The US-American turned professional in 1985 and worked with several bands and musicians. On 14th February 2025, he released his third solo studio album, Dark Country. Here is my review.

 

Gary Louris – About The Artist

Gary Louris is an alternative country, rock and pop artist from Ohio. He was born there in Toledo on 10th March 1955. Louris is also known as a founding member of the band The Jayhawks, which he has been part of from the very beginning until now. While the first album of tha band has been released in 1986, Louris debuted solo with Vagabounds in 2008. However, it took him thirteen years to release his sophomore album, Jump For You. Gary Louris also released music and records in other collaborations, especially with the collective Golden Smog, which lead to four studio albums between 1995 and 2007.

 

Gary Louris – Dark Country – Track by Track

The twelve track album lasts 47 minutes.

1. Getting Older

The harmonica, the groovy, the style – I just have to think of Tom Petty and his music from the very beginning of listening to Dark Country. The song is a really nice and melodic opener for the album. The vocals are rather in the falsetto range, but add a nice touch in this song with nice country vibes.

2. Couldn’t Live a Day Without You

The title of the second song already suggests some strong emotions. Indeed, the 2:35 minutes listen is rather on the romantic side and does not need too much more than Louris’ voice and the acoustic guitar. You are the air that breathe, every day, you give me reason to believe – it must be wonderful being in a relationship with a (good) songwriter.

3. Dead Porcupine

If you read my reviews frequently, you might know how much I appreciate unique track titles. I feel, there has never been a song about a Dead Porcupine on Flctory.com so far. Overall, Gary Louris is even dedicating him almost five minutes of the album. The song is majorly driven by the acoustic guitar and the artist’s vocals. Additionally, there are sprinkles of other instruments, mainly additional guitar chords. The song is very narrative and majorly driven from the entertaining storytelling.

4. By Your Side

The title and the first piano chords suggest that By Your Side will rather lean towards romantic feeling. If you would have told me that a year from now I am sitting beside you are the first lyrics of this musical love letter – which even finally gets some ten seconds more than the dead porcupine. You have to set priorities – and this one is a touching beauty, definitely.

5. Living On My Phone

After these two epic ones, Living On My Phone is “just” a 3:20 minute listen. The song is majorly accompanied by the acoustic, but also comes with some other melodic elements. The key focus on Gary Louris songs is on the vocals and the stories, though. This leads to a clear songwriter character of the song.

6. Blow ‘Em Away

The sixth song on Dark Country is Blow ‘Em Away. The song is a really nice reflection with statements like I don’t care what people say. The song has a nicely flowing style, the guitar and the piano are comparably present. Overall, this song underlines the story rather intensively with instrumental elements.

7. Redefining Love

The slightly folk-style Redefining Love is the seventh song of the album. The song is about forming a relationship. I feel that the lyrics are very emotional and personal, but they simply don’t touch me as much as other ones in Dark Country.

8. Better To Walk Than To Run

The very intimate and personal style, singing about successful relationships, continues in this song. Better To Walk Than To Run thereby is a more catching and touching experience to me than its predecessor. The elements are similar,

9. Listening to Bobby Charles

Melodically, the songs in this part of the album feel very similar. Fine guitar melodies with a gentle vocal performance. Listening to Bobby Charles has a bit more energy than the songs before, but overall, these songs are about the lyrics, the storytelling. The harmonica adds a nice scattered flavor in this listen.

10. Two Birds

The harder electric guitar sounds right at the beginning of Two Birds already tells that the gentle melodies are at least on a short break. The whole song spreads a lot of energy with rock vibes. A really nice change in the style of the album – and a good listen.

11. Helping Hand

Even though Helping Hand is slowing down the pace of Dark Country again slightly, it is still a nice song with electric guitar chords and a present rhythm. The fine, partially deep voice by Gary Louris feels to fit perfectly. A really good one.

12. Perfect Day

What could be a better way to close this set of songs than by praising a Perfect Day. The song is slow, feels almost majestic, with strings in the background and quite some reverb. Yeah, you cannot deny that the setting is also quite kitschy, but spreading some warmth musically in the colder season is not too bad. Country or Americana elements are rather small in this one, though.

 

Gary Louris – Dark Country – Spotify

Here is the album on Spotify:

 

Gary Louris – Dark Country – My View

Gary Louris’ 2025 album is a really nice listen. Dark Country is full of beautifully told stories, emotional and energetic moments. The last song Perfect Day leads to a very different, surprising touch. I would not see the album on the very top notch of the rating range, but it definitely deserves a good review.

Favorite Song: By Your Side

 

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