Monday, September 24, 2012

REVIEW: Woods - Bend Beyond


Bend Beyond, by Brooklyn resident Jeremy Earl's Woods, is a strikingly rich and satisfying dose of folk rock and guitar pop.  The songs vary from more traditional pop to more jammy numbers, but it all hangs together with Earl's falsetto, excellent songwriting and tight performances form the band.  The album has noteworthy energy and exudes a confidence born of a band that knows that they have worthy material.

Here is the sunny pop of "Cali in a Cup" --




For those familiar with previous Woods releases, this one is a more straight forward affair, with cleaner and more careful production.  For those not familiar with the group, Bend Beyond is an excellent point of entry to their catalogue.

"Is It Honest" is one of my favorite songs on this album.  For me, it perfectly reflects the essential duality of the music -- a loose delivery that manages to deliver an genuine atmosphere of tension.


Woods - Is It Honest from Windows Have Eyes on Vimeo.

Bend Beyond is out not on Earl's label, Woodsist Records.  Other musicians on the album include Jarvis Taveniere, Kevin Morby, G. Lucas Crane and Aaron Neveu.

Be warned, this album gets under your skin.

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