Strange to Explain sounds like the result of carefully considered choices in songwriting and production. Without losing the unfiltered emotion that makes them so compelling, Woods reach a new maturity with these songs. Fifteen years into a tirelessly curious evolution, the band sound more comfortable and surefooted here than ever before.
If you were a fan of their mid-2000’s work, this album would be a very satisfying continuation of their sound while also mixing in enough new ideas for it to be a progressive album for the group.
The record wanders amongst the warm thickets of Woods’ discography like an explorer: coming across new worlds and sensations without judgement or fear, but instead, equipped with an eye for the beautifully difficult—those things in life that test us, that make us pure.
For the most part, the songs are compact, with only the closing instrumental, “Weekend Wind,” passing the six-minute mark. Jeremy Earl’s falsetto is at its most confident and versatile, gliding over tunes that explore the headspace newfound fatherhood has brought him.
Fantastic album that lives up to the rest of the discography. They managed to merge what made Sun City great into their their longer, moreFantastic album that lives up to the rest of the discography. They managed to merge what made Sun City great into their their longer, more guitar focused songs and it works very well. It shocks me this band aren't bigger than they are.…Expand
Woods me dio una de las más gratas sorpresas del 2020. Esta recurrente banda, con 10 albums desde el 2007 tocando una hermosa( 88/100 )
Woods me dio una de las más gratas sorpresas del 2020. Esta recurrente banda, con 10 albums desde el 2007 tocando una hermosa combinación de Indie Rock, Psychedelic Folk y Rock con rasgos de LoFi, fue creada por Jeremy Earl alrededor del 2005 y creció para convertirse en una banda Indie más exclusivas e intimas para su público. La razón es al mismo tiempo su paradoja: su falta de popularidad. En "Strange To Explain", Woods demuestra una visión hermosa en su complejidad, ingeniosa en su simpleza, sensible con intensidad e íntimamente poderosa. Sin miedo a la extensión, la banda canta sobre recuerdos con detalle variopinto y optimismo melancólico, asimismo, la producción reluce con acústicas importantes llenas de textura boscosa, grandeza espacial, ecos del tiempo y pequeñas gotas de melodías que acogen a los alpinistas cruzando. Me quedo con una muy bonita experiencia musical y la emoción de ver este bosque crecer.
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Woods gave me one of the most grateful surprises of 2020. This constant band with 10 albums since 2007 playing a beautiful combination of Indie-Rock, Psychedelic Folk, and Rock with traces of LoFi, was created by Jeremy Earl around 2005 and grew up to become an exclusive and intimate Indie band with its public. The reason is, at the same time, its paradox: their lack of popularity. In "Strange To Explain", Woods shows a vision beautiful in its complexity, clever with its simplicity, sensible with intensity, and powerfully intimate. Fearless to extension, the band sings about memories with colorful details and melancholic optimism. Similarly, the production shimmers with important acoustics full of wooded texture, spatial greatness, time echoes, and little drops of melodies that embrace the hikers passing by. I stick with a beautiful musical experience and the excitement of watching grow these woods.…Expand
This album sonically is like going outside on an early morning in fall with your sweater on and walking around enjoying the weather and takingThis album sonically is like going outside on an early morning in fall with your sweater on and walking around enjoying the weather and taking in nature. Although in my personal preference, I really like doing this, but I don't love it like others. Maybe this album might grow on me, but for now, some parts of this album don't always click with me right away. But still, when it clicks (which is for most of it) it sounds great, and very hopeful lyrically and sonically. Overall, this is a great listen I would recommend to most, although this won't be everyone's thing. Great album tho
Review taken from my page on albumoftheyear.org, go follow it if ya want @rileyperreault…Expand