After releasing three albums in myriad formats, the Brooklyn-based acid folksters Woods have released another haunting campfire album, Songs of Shame. If you’re into any of the other psychedelic Wavves/Pocahaunted/Crystal Stilts–esque folk being released lately, you’ve probably already come across one or more Woods albums. If not, I’m still hoping you spend the weekend trying some of these tracks on for size.
Admittedly, yet another meandering lo-fi album could put you over the edge, but I’m going to insist that you give Songs of Shame a fighting chance for one reason: the American acoustic scene can produce oodles of nostalgic-toned, pastorally melodic, Brooklyn-based freak folkies, but it’s only once in a blue moon that some of these guys can actually claim legitimacy as A Band With Backbone — that is, one that isn’t ashamed of messing with a few tired archetypes. This appears to be the case for Woods, who seems to thrive on the unabashed confrontation of everything you think you can predict about the contemporary folk scene.
The opener “To Clean” is a slow start to the record, but by the time “The Number” opens up to Spanish guitars and airy vocals, Songs of Shame will certainly grow on you. “September With Pete” is a nine-minute free-loving jam session, followed by a minute and a half of “Down This Road”. The cover song, “Military Madness” represents the twangy zenith of the album and highlights lead singer Jeremy Earl’s nasally falsetto. “Born To Love” is an odd intermission, filled with long, surreal harmonics, a dusky guitar, and one of the only actual references to the title’s “shame” and “terrible, tear-jerking blues.” “Echo Lake” and “Gypsy Hand” are more jam session hybrids, layering quirky, unthreatening vocals over streams of drum circle beats and funky jazz guitars. “Where And What Are You?” features minimalist violin plucking and double-layered harmonies, which make it an ideal closing track: short, sweet, and lusty.
The juxtaposition between the melodically satisfying tracks and laidback jam sessions makes Songs of Shame are occasionally inconsistent, but the album still manages to save itself gracefully. “September With Pete,” for example, gets a little lengthy and excessive, but not too late for “Military Madness” to swoop in and snap the album back into focus. “Gypsy Hand” has an out-of-place female choir reminiscent of 1960’s sitcom jingles, and crescendos into a heavy jam session; nevertheless, the delectable, energetic melodies shine through and redeem the chaos. A couple of other tracks are micro-degrees less than thoroughly listenable, and, admittedly, the album could use some length, but, overall, Songs of Shame is an effortlessly sultry and laidback, if not confusing, achievement.
In addition, as a band, Woods is smart and evocative enough to own their sprawling success of an album. The musicians are expert at sidestepping melodrama and pretension, and it might just be your own fault if you try and force a systematic cohesion from the eleven unsystematic tracks. Just let the breezy, effortless melodies shine through the laidback jam sessions and unexpectedly brash noise-rock, and you’ll be delighted with Songs of Shame. Now for a climactic paradox: I’m not giving this album an A for effort, I’m giving it an A for attitude, and a delightfully sloppy and inconsistent one at that.
Track List
1. To clean (2:16)
2. The hold (2:42)
3. The number (2:52)
4. September with Pete (9:39)
5. Down this road (1:36)
6. Military madness (3:11)
7. Born to lose (1:59)
8. Echo lake (2:03)
9. Rain on (3:27)
10. Gypsy hand (4:24)
11. Where and what are you? (1:20)
