** The Jayhawks, “Smile,” American/Columbia.

The Jayhawks have endured one of the most star-crossed careers in roots-rockdom. Over-budget albums, departing members, unstable labels--it’s a wonder leader Gary Louris has managed to keep it together for as long as he has. Unfortunately, this album (due in stores Tuesday) sounds like an act of desperation, a final grand stab at mainstream success before the Minnesota band’s opportunities dry out. Hard-rock veteran Bob Ezrin’s production is expansive but less intimate than previous Jayhawks efforts, and Louris’ fragile, emotionally resonant song craft has been dumbed-down to Hallmark platitudes. A major letdown after the band’s 1996 masterwork, “Sound of Lies.”

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Albums are rated on a scale of one star (poor), two stars (fair), three stars (good) and four stars (excellent). The albums are already released unless otherwise noted.