Tim O'Reagan moves to center stage

Tim O'Reagan
self-titled
Lost Highway

When a drummer steps into the spotlight, you might expect his first solo CD to start out with a bang. You know, of drums.

But instead Tim O'Reagan, drummer for the maybe-defunct-at-least-for-now Jayhawks, sort of saunters into it. Lead track "These Things" starts off with a pretty accordian reverie, then in comes some light percussion, laid-back guitar and bass and a shuffling groove that just begs the head to bob. It's a perfect setup for O'Reagan's languid vocals -- the ones that used to blend so well with Gary Louris' brighter lead. But I don't mean to slight O'Reagan by comparison: He's crafted solid songs that for the most part suit his voice well, making for an album that's smooth and mellow without being sleepy.

So are we talking about a de facto Jayhawks album here or what? On paper, you might assume so. Guests on the album include Jayhawks alums past and way-past: Gary Louris, Marc Perlman, Mark Olson, Karen Grotberg. And there are some strong echoes of past glories. The most obvious is on the song "Girl/World," which starts with the lines:

They say you gave him up for dead
Now there's a stranger running in your head
Yellow roses at your feet
Disappear into what could have been
Flowers ... like the flowers in the spring
Left to the mercy of the seasons
Soon the past is gonna catch you up
Stinging like a paper cut

Sound familiar? It's almost exactly the words of the opening verse of the Jayhawks' "Don't Let the World Get in Your Way" (written by O'Reagan) on "Rainy Day Music." But the lyrics are the only similarity. The rhythm is completely different, as is the melody. Whether O'Reagan simply updated the song after the passage of time or was taking the opportunity to record it as he always intended now that he didn't have to compromise within a band, I don't know. But whatever the reason for the rehash, you can't help but harken back to the Jayhawks while listening to "Girl/World." A few other songs on "Tim O'Reagan" give off a Jayhawks vibe, too, though less tangibly. "River Bends," for instance, has a harmonica intro, upbeat melody and rhythm, and soaring harmonies (I think with Karen Grotberg) that definitely feel kind of cozy for a Jayhawks fan.

But while O'Reagan invited plenty of old friends to play along, it's definitely his own gig. He handles most of the instruments (not just drums) and all the lead vocals. And therein lies one weakness of the album, which comes out June 27. O'Reagan's voice is nasally, which is great in that he doesn't really sound much like anyone else (I could maybe see a Dylan comparison, vocally), but it can also be grating after long exposure. He's smart enough to write songs around what his voice can do, not making any unsuccessful stretches (except possibly on "Ivy," a weird foray into falsetto, almost ABBA-like territory, but which like an ABBA song is simultaneously annoying and impossibly catchy). There's few if any points on the CD where O'Reagan's voice really punches through, but the well-crafted melodies, interesting lyrics, shimmering choruses and clean production keep your attention despite some lack of vocal richness.

So Tim O'Reagan's solo debut doesn't start out with a bang. Or end with one. But what it has instead is shimmer, and sometimes that's a lot more for your buck.