We review the latest album by The Wood Brothers – Kingdom In My Mind – revealing our favourite tracks from the album and our takeaways.
Formed over a decade ago, The Wood Brothers – Oliver and Chris Wood, alongside Jano Rix, decided to shake things up for their new record Kingdom In My Mind, moving to the South and buying a studio in Nashville. Such a luxury resulted in a beautifully unplanned collection of songs that have created a gorgeous meandering prose of an album, stretching from the bluesy rock ‘Alabaster’ to the more Americana-tinged ‘Little Blue (Reprise).’
The joy in music itself seems ever-present on the record, both lyrically and instrumentally. It is clear that they have been able to take risks and create a record that felt truly loyal to who they are as artists, and also as a tribute to American music itself. The album opens with indulgent track ‘Alabaster,’ replete with Oliver Wood’s gorgeously raw and gravelly vocal, an ode to 1920s blues and jazz that is seamlessly tied with its succeeding track ‘Little Bit Sweet.’ Here, the syncopated track is helmed by a driving bass and guitar riffs and the instrumentation is allowed to have its own moment in the spotlight. There’s a distinct ‘O Brother Where Art Thou’ feel, made unique and tender that is carried into ‘Jitterbug Love.’ This track feels like a bigger, more commercial hit, with a raw edge that gives it a unique appeal – along with a phenomenally diverse instrumental backing track. Chris Wood’s moment on the lead vocal is a stroke of genius, expanding the band’s previous sonic range.
‘Cry Over Nothing’ strips the sound back again, with a Jake Bugg-esque sounding track. The depth of emotion on this record is raw and real, and it comes with a surprise when the singing guitar and piano come in in the middle of the track, before the instrumentation is stripped back yet again to the raw vocal. Yet these dynamics give the track its emotional pull. The track then traverses into darker territory for ‘Don’t Think About My Death’ that has a much darker, rockier undertone – a similar tone used in ‘Satisfied’ for Oliver’s discussion on afterlife.
‘Little Bit Broken’ though has a much funkier undertone that is reminiscent of Jimi Hendrix or Prince himself – it’s a much happier, groovier and reassuring track both melodically and lyrically and the guitar sings throughout the track. It’s the catchiest most dance-ready track on the album and feels built for a festival line-up, down to the inclusion of the vocoder. Next up is our personal favourite track on the album ‘The One I Love’ that is moving, delicate and utterly compelling – creating a narrative of romantic married life. The track seems to get looser as it goes on, and as soulful singers join the backing track, down to the ending laugh that is captured on the song – making it seem completely raw and real. You can almost see Chris Wood on the mixing board, capturing the whole thing.
‘Little Blue’ is one of the odder, groovy moments on the record – complete with bells, giving it more of an improvised feel in comparison to the other tracks, before a more solidly rehearsed, rockier ‘A Dream’s A Dream.’ The closing track on the album ‘Satisfied’ is another ‘moment’ on the record – a gorgeously reflective piece that will make even the most materialistic people take a moment to contemplate life. The album is rounded out by a reprise of ‘Little Blue’ that is a curious addition, feeling more of an opening than an ending track but is a fitting end to this miraculously and beautifully disjointed project.
The Wood Brothers are definitely one of those bands that are unable to pigeonhole into a sole genre. There’s so many influences packed into this album, from country to blues to rock, each sonically distinct on the album, creating an album full of nuances. What is paramountly clear throughout the album is the extremity of musical talent possessed by the band, both in the creation of tracks, their delicate handling of different genres and their stellar instrumentation. It feels like a true insight into the band’s live renditions and studio ‘works in progress’ – disjointed and fragmented at points, but that is part of the beauty of the album as a whole.
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Editor’s Picks
Satisfied
The One I Love
Alabaster
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