Ways Not to Lose

The Wood Brothers | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (March 7, 2006)
• Original Release Date: 2006
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Blue Note Records
• ASIN: B000E6UK4G
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (29 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #7,786 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #18 in Music > Country > Bluegrass > Traditional
  • #19 in Music > Folk > Contemporary Folk > Alternative Folk
  • #29 in Music > Blues > Acoustic Blues

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Modern folk and blues rarely sounds as inventive and colorful as the Wood Brothers' spare, soothing studio debut. Currents of jazz, pop, and country also ripple through these 12 lovely arrangements built around Chris Wood's upright bass (previously heard in Medeski, Martin & Wood) and Oliver Wood's gentle acoustic and electric guitars. It's not simply that the brothers' sweet, high voices have the genetic gift of close harmony: they're in absolute synch creatively, too. So when one's singing lingers over a lazy phrase in a number like the languid ode to living "Chocolate on My Tongue," the other hangs back on his instrument until just the right, complementary moment. Drummer Kenny Wollesen, who plays on a handful of tracks, is on the same wavelength--never rushing or pushing the Woods' behind-the-beat sensibility. And the rich dark tones of the bass and, in particular, slide guitars perfectly illuminate their unhurried stories about spiritual discovery and the trials of life. All of which makes Ways Not to Lose a delightful, relaxed listening experience. --Ted Drozdowski

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

27 of 27 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars As Good As You Could Ever Want It...., March 7, 2006

By 

F. Cribiore "Fab Five Feddy" (London, UK / NYC, NY) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Ways Not to Lose (Audio CD)

This record in my opinion is truly as good as you could ever want it. Highly inventive songs that play on and willingly reveal their roots, while maintaining complete originality. Oliver Wood's voice with Chris singing harmonies accompanied by old school steel guitar and Chris' distinctive style of upright bass. Hard to choose which songs are the best as in my humble opinion they all are quite wonderful. Luckiest Man, The Truth is the Light, That's What Angels can Do and Chocolate are probably my absolute favorites - but I think One More Day can be a hymn for the February Funk. HIGHLY HIGHLY HIGHLY recommended. For me this is the most interesting singer/songwriter record to come out in a LONG TIME.

23 of 25 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Finally some music I like that doesn't scare girls away!!, April 26, 2006

By 

Jeremy J. Sprague (Bloomington, IN) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Ways Not to Lose (Audio CD)

I typically listen to music that is so raw that I'm afraid to let my dates listen to it. I end up putting on some kind of Coldplay or Ben Harper or something else that I can only half-way enjoy. But I tell you what ('cause people from Indiana tell people what)--this CD is a piece of work. There is a rawness that comes from musical innovation that doesn't leave its roots hanging in the air like a tree blown over by the wind. Each song is wonderfully written. There is nothing lacking on this album. I am confident that this will become one of those monolithic albums people talk about for a long time. I've been listening to this album non-stop for the past couple of weeks, and it's defining this time in my life. I can count about three albums that have done that for me since high school, some 14 years ago.

14 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars It's good to breathe some fresh air..., March 20, 2006

By 

Albert (Milwaukee) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Ways Not to Lose (Audio CD)

I had a feeling about this album, and boy was I right. It's hard to really classify the genre, but blues/folk is the best I can come up with. Oliver Wood's voice is is very intriguing, and his guitar playing is just the right touch on this album - not too many notes to plug up the songs, somewhat of a "less is more" concept. Chris Wood from the under-appreciated Medeski, Martin, & Wood holds his own on the low end. So many times in studio albums, the bass is lost in the background somewhere for the listener to find. Not the case here. The bass is so prominent in the mix (which it should be on this album), I'll find myself humming to the bass lines more often than the strumming of Oliver's guitar chords. The entire album "brings it" from start to finish; not one track remotely makes you think of skipping it. It seems as if Chris and Oliver have both had the idea of making this album in their heads since growing up together and have finally gotten around to doing it. Forget about the genre this may be labeled under. If you're a true fan of good music, you'll want to pick this up. It's early in the year, but this could be the best release I've heard up to this point, and I'm sure will be for quite some time.