The 333 Best Pop Songs of the 2000s: #262

#262: "She Only Calls Me on Sundays" (2008) - Gary Louris

Our second singer on Roots Week also comes from a roots-based band. Gary Louris was half the creative force (Mark Olson was the other half) behind the roots-oriented band The Jayhawks, which debuted (on a--semi--major label) in 1991. After two albums (both of which are great), Olson left the group to marry folk/indie artist Victoria Williams and pursue a solo career (neither of which have been very successful, especially the former) while Louris stuck around until 2003 when the Jayhawk split. Louris played around a bit, writing songs for different artists (including the Dixie Chicks), and touring occasionally with the indie/roots all-star band The Golden Smog.

Last year, Louris recruited The Black Crowes lead singer Chris Robinson to produce Louris's first solo record, out of which came this dandy of a neo-country song. Robinson surrounds Louris's wispy tenor and acoustic guitar with pedal steel and wood block and upright piano and the angelic choir of Suzanna Hoffs and Jenny Lewis, giving the song a sound reminiscent of Gram Parson's Byrds. The song itself is a waltz (the only song in this countdown--up to this point--in 3/4 time) about an ex-lover (or it could be a family member) who's fallen into a state of depression and alcoholism and prescription-drug addiction. Louris (as well as Hoffs and Lewis) sing the song so sweetly, as the protagonist so adores this woman, and the contrast of pretty singing and doomed lyrics serve to underline the pathos of the scene.

If George Jones would have sung this thirty years ago (and the song's got that kind of classic country quality), he would have wrung the tragedy out of the song, resulting in...well, it still would have been great, as I could easily hear Jones dig deep into this one; but, Billy Sherril (his producer) would have laid on too many strings and tricked up the song with thick treacle, and...well, with Jones it still (again) would have worked. Go back and listen to "He Stopped Loving Her Today," and you'll see what I mean. "She Only Calls Me on Sundays" is similar to it in many ways. It doesn't have George Jones, but the lyrics and tune and structure are just as good, and it's got a producer. I'd love to hear Chris Robinson produce a George Jones record. In fact, Mr. Black Crowe needs to do so before drinking or Tammy Wynette's memory kills Jones. I bet ol' George would even let Gary Louris write him a song or two. Man, then the race would be on.