Woodsist Fest [Henry Miller Library]

Woods

Record Review: Woods [Sun and Shade, Woodsist]

By Jennifer Graciano

Woods’ Sun and Shade is, as expected, another faultless release from the psych folk four piece. Sun and Shade marks Woods’ fifth LP, one that takes some of the best musical bits from the bands catalogue for another stunning full-length. Their latest doesn’t demonstrate any drastic change from what we’ve come to expect from the Brooklyn natives; by resurfacing some of their earlier, relatively experimental efforts and not abandoning the catchy melodies Woods craft so well, Sun and Shade never bores and keeps us listening.

Album opener, “Pushing Onlys,” is positively charming for its guitars, uncomplicated melodies, and downright catchiness. Jeremy Earl’s quivering vocals have stopped hiding behind slight reverb and muddled noise (as on much of At Echo Lake) which makes for a better listen and easier appreciation for his songwriting skills.

Everything you could ever want from a Woods full length is in Sun and Shade: folk, pop, ‘60s influences, untried sounds, melodies that you’ll recall for days. “Who Do I Think I Am?” a mid-tempo self-questioning song with soft percussion has Earl calmly questioning: “What’s going on inside my brain/I must be going insane”. Woods continue to churn out lyrics that are not only emotive, but catchy, which is no easy feat. While on “White Out” the band tries their hand in previously explored sounds; a relatively safe experimental track with more than a minute of pure instrumentation.

Woods [Pushing Onlys, Woodsist]

Finally found an embedable of the excellent new track for Woods (courtesy of Force Field PR). The song is the first single to be released from the band's upcoming album Sun & Shade on June 14th. The song is a pretty strong indication of more good things to come from the psychedelic band. Announced yesterday via Force Field were the dates for the second annual Woodsist Fest in Big Sur. No lineup announced yet, but keep your eyes peeled on the Henry Miller Library's website for details.

Pushing Onlys

Woodsist Fest [Henry Miller Library, Big Sur 06.12.2010]

The Art Museums

The Mantles

Eat Skull

Kurt Vile

The Fresh & Onlys

Moon Duo

Woods

Real Estate

Welcome Home / Diggin' The Universe [Woodsist Records]

FIT has a new release and it is something to get excited about. Welcome Home/Diggin' the Universe is a compilation of between several Woodsist artists (Woods, Fresh & Onlys, White Fence, Moon Duo and the Mantles) as well as several others such as RUN DMT, Alex Bleeker, City Center and Ducktails. There are 13 tracks overall and the line up is simply phenomenal; this is one compilation tape definitely worth giving a listen to.

Full Lineup:

Woods

RUN DMT

White Fence

The Fresh & Onlys

The Mantles

Skygreen Leopards

Alex Bleeker

Moon Duo

City Center

Cause Co Motion

Art Museums

Nodzzz

Ducktails

Thanks to Tally Ho for putting up the list

The tape can be purchased here

Woods [I Was Gone, Woodsist]

SFweekly announced today the release of the new Woods single, "I Was Gone", but this track was actually included as a B side on the limited 3 song EP which was pressed by the band back in February. Nevertheless, the song will be featured on the new album At Echo Lake, soon to be released in May.

I Was Gone

If still available, I Was Gone EP can be purchased through Woodsist.com or here

At Echo Lake can be pre-ordered here

Woods [At Echo Lake, Woodsist]

From a band I can't seem to get enough of, Woods will be releasing a new album on May 11 2010 called At Echo Lake. Songs of Shame was one of my favorite albums of last year and everything these lo-fi guys seem to do is golden. Keep an eye out for this one, it should not disappoint.

Pre-order here

Track List:

01 Blood Dries Darker
02 Pick Up
03 Suffering Season
04 Time Fading Lines
05 From the Horn
06 Death Rattles
07 Mornin' Time
08 I Was Gone
09 Get Back
10 Deep
11 Til the Sun Rips