Mark Olson and the Creekdippers
December's Child

(Dualtone)

First Appeared in The Music Box, September 2002, Volume 9, #9

Written by John Metzger

Perhaps the biggest story surrounding the release of Mark Olson’s latest album December’s Child is his reconnection with former bandmate Gary Louris. It’s the first recorded reunion between the duo since Olson split the Jayhawks to go his own way, and though it happens on just a single song (Say You’ll Be Mine), one can’t help but wonder and hope if more is in the works.

And Say You’ll Be Mine isn’t even the best song on the album. That honor goes to the opening How Can I Send Tonight (There to Tell You), a lilting country ballad graced by elegant piano chords, weepy guitar, and gentle percussion textures. As for the rest of December’s Child, it’s full of the earthy, organic folk-rock that Olson has explored since bursting onto the Minnesota music scene in 1985. For the record, the album never really lives up to The Jayhawks’ superb Hollywood Town Hall or Tomorrow the Green Grass, but — save for the annoyingly cartoonish funk romp (One-Eyed Black Dog Moses) that concludes the album — it’s a fine effort, nonetheless. ½

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Ratings

1 Star:  Pitiful
2 Stars: Listenable
3 Stars: Respectable
4 Stars: Excellent
5 Stars: Can't Live Without It!!

Copyright © 2002 The Music Box