Viewed through this lens, the disappointing Smile makes more sense. The ragged roots anthems of old have mostly been replaced by "radio-ready anthems" like "I'm Gonna Make You Love Me," whose simple mid-tempo harmonizing recalls the pleasant mediocrity of the Traveling Wilburys. And most of the album's lyrics -- no poetry here, either -- seem targeted at your typical FM-radio listener (the title track's imploring chorus "Chin up, chin up/in your hour of despair," for instance, is way too precious). The aspiration for airplay is obvious in Ezrin's glossy overproduction and the wince-inducing drum loop (!) on "Somewhere in Ohio." But it's also evident in a subtler, more depressing way when you notice the contrast between these songs and the few that don't hew to the commercial mandate. "A Break in the Clouds," for instance, hints at what the post-Olson Jayhawks should have been: a band marked by smart, introspective songwriting and Gary Louris's lush, heartbreaking melodies. "What Led Me to This Town" and "Better Days" are two others that would have passed muster on Jayhawks albums of yore.
On some level, you know the band hated doing this. One the same level, longtime fans will struggle with the "new" Jayhawks, aware that they can do better -- and deserve to.
