Woods

I read a little bit upthread but can someone explain the problem with the vocals? They are so beautiful and integral to the sound of this band I literally can't imagine anything objectionable about them.

Still trying to figure this out.

New one is great but the last three have stuck pretty close to a "formula," it's a formula that works really well but I'm hoping they shake things up slightly, maybe even production-wise, with the next record.

Well, going off of the Bee-Gees comparison, those dudes can actually SING. Woods is like somebody who can't sing doing a jokey Bee-Gees impression at Karaoke. Also, the Bee-Gees didn't do the falsetto thing on every damn song. He needs to break it up a bit. I love individual songs but I honestly can't make it through an entire album in one sitting. And I guess some people are just more sensitive to pitchiness than others.

hmm, i've always found the vocals to be very well integrated with their sound. they've never struck me as a karaoke-type novelty. but i think that's the risk with using unapologetic falsetto the way woods do, some listeners can't really take it seriously because it's so obviously an affectation and, as you said, it's harder to control the pitch. one reason i like woods so much may be that i'm not really very sensitive to pitchiness and i rarely ever find myself wishing that idiosyncratic vocalists were more 'traditionally' skilled or polished.

and yeah, MFB, i would definitely welcome more experimentation in their next record. they definitely need to expand their sound if they want to make a 'great' album. but maybe they don't want that, i feel like people see them primarily as a live band.

wait, I finally figured out my problem. he sounds exactly like Mickey Mouse.

well, he sounds like early mickey mouse. like, before the coke and polyster suit period, when it was still about the music.

Bend Beyond is a nice album

having seen them live a bunch of times recently though ... I like most of these new songs better the way they've been doing them live. the title track being only 4:25 long is a surprise, in their set they stretch that one out with a buncha spacey shit in the middle.

Cali in a Cup is a p sweet track. sounds like sunshine. nice harmonica.

best song on this might be Size Meets the Sound, pretty awesome

Enjoying this a lot, best album I've heard from them since Songs of Shame. The B-Side to "Cali in a Cup" is lovely too (only clip on Youtube involves the knees of a crazy cat guy):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0d1DSGSR_so

Fuck I love this new one, right up my alley. What of their other stuff sounds like the new one?

the new album's good. i like how this band releases albums every year, seemingly. this is what bands should do when they are solid and can make consistently enjoyable, if rarely "surprising" music. they haven't topped "songs of shame" yet but that's probably for the best. to top it they'd have to deviate from the by-now reliable formula.

i really like this new one, anyone else listening?

Loved it all summer long.

summers just started here & yeah its perfect

Any thoughts on Strange To Explain? I haven't heard it yet, I was stupidly waiting for the physical copy I pre-ordered to show up before I played it, but since I'm entering week 4 since it was shipped I might have to just go ahead and stream it anyway.

it's good but not as proggy as the last one. few if any obvious reflections on purple mountains

They were not on my radar at all pre-Purple Mountains (name too boring to care) so Strange to Explain is the first thing I've heard from them. I liked a couple of the singles but the album is yet to fully connect with me.

I pitched it to my dad as existing somewhere on a continuum from Todd Rundgren to The Shins... am I crazy? lol

Still waiting for my copy to show up, USPS is really shitting the bed on some deliveries lately. Really curious myself to hear where they are heading these days (yes I know I can just stream it, but I'm silly and old-fashioned about albums by bands I really like that I've pre-ordered).

Bit underwhelmed by Strange to Explain sadly cos I loooove City Sun etc

Finally getting a chance to spin this after the nine week journey for my copy to get to me from Long Island, I like it. It's definitely not as good as With Light and Love or City Sun, but I think it's a step back in the right direction after Love is Love.

Reflections, Vol. 1 is stunning if you already love Woods

this band puts out consistently good stuff

they do

found a copy of Love is Love in the clearance bin at a record store, they deserve better (but was happy to pick it up for $8.99!)

they are astonishing live