You may not know it unless you're a fan of The Jayhawks but Ready For the Flood is 14 long years in the making for obsessives (like myself) of the defunct original lineup of one of the greatest Alt-Country groups of all time. Back in 1995 at the peak of their popularity, Mark Olson left The Jayhawks to pursue other musical interests leaving Gary Louris to front the band until he finally called it quits on the moniker in 2003. In 2007, after going through a crippling divorce and bouts of homelessness, Olson crafted the solo album The Salvation Blues, a record that found Louris finally reconnecting with his long lost bandmate on three of the tracks. This year, Olson & Louris finally have come together with what will probably be the closest to a new Jayhawks record that fanatics can hope for.

All this fawning would be for not if Ready For the Flood was a huge disappointment but thankfully it isn't anywhere close. Ready For the Flood is a 13-track trip through stunning sunkissed harmonies blended with bouts of Folk, Country and a smidge of Bluegrass. The best tracks here, such as "Bicycle" and "Turn Your Pretty Name Around" entwine Louris' and Olson's vocals so perfectly during the choruses that it'll make a permanent mark on your brain the way magnificent harmonies are always capable of doing. A rousing success to say the least, here's hoping Ready For the Flood doesn't turn out to be a one off outing for two musicians who seem to do their very best work when they are joined together as The Jayhawks or otherwise.