Customer Reviews

Wood

5 star:		(12)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I bought "Wood" after a year of purchasing four other Moxy Früvous albums, Thornhill, B, YWGTTM, and stealing Live Noise from a friend. All I can say is that this album offers you the essence of Autumn. They were absolutely right on with this album. Others may find this disappointing, but I have to agree with those fans who think that it's one of their more mellow albums. You can't listen to Jian Ghomeshi singing "Misplaced" without feeling a slight yearning for that ex-boyfriend/girlfriend you broke up with when you went to college or moved away. But then, Jian always gets the best of you when he sings about heartwrenching things, take "Fly" for example. At the past two Früvous concerts I went to, Jian almost cries when he introduces the song and makes some very astute comment about relationships and their very endings. "Wood" does also allow for some very cynical arrangements, Mike Ford singing "Down From Above" and Murray Foster's nearly psychotic voice in "Sad Today." The great piano intro to "Horseshoes" combined with Dave Matheson's heartfelt tone just took me away. The Früfour have yet to fail me, and I hope that's the way it remains.

I have occasionally seen people call this their least favorite Moxy Früvous album, or say that it took a while for it to grow on them. I actually liked it from the first time I heard it. I would imagine that the negative opinions are largely due to the fact that it really contains none of the satirical humor so common on Bargainville, the B Album, and even You Will Go to the Moon. If that is what you're expecting, you might be disappointed, but I would advise you to take a few listens to Wood with an open mind. These songs are excellent, if a little on the sad side. A lot of the tracks here seem to be about relationships falling apart, although this is also the most esoteric Früvous album, and it is often difficult to figure out exactly what the band is talking about in any given song. Some of the standout tracks (at least for me) include the majestic and mysterious "Down From Above," the catchy banjo-based "The Present Tense Tureen," the bittersweet "On Her Doorstep," and the just plain weird "Sad Today." While Wood might not be what you would expect from Früvous, it is an amazing album.

This album is one of the most poignant musical collections I own. It is an emotional rollercoaster ride, from the light-hearted live favorite, Present Tense Tureen, to the deep-felt Misplaced. People frequently associate the Fru-lads merely with the satirical and seemeingly upbeat tunes of Bargainville. However, Wood is a must-have for any fan who identifies with their music. This is an album I can leave on repeat on my stereo all day long, and never tire of it!

I'm playing this album again as I write this review. I can't get enough of the emotion and feeling displayed in their storytelling lyrics. I like this album better than the more upbeat and funny content of their other albums. I like the songs because the lyrics are not entirely direct, allowing you to imagine scenes as they lay them out in song.

I like all the fruvous's cd's but this one is the best. When I first purchased the cd, I was greatly disapointed. It had a totally differant sound to it than Bargainville. But after listening to it for awhile it has become my favorite cd. Whenever I listen to it I'm instantly calmed down. I know most people don't like it as much as the other cd's, but my money is with Wood.

Originally I bought Wood with the B Album, a few months ago. While I found the B Album immediately catchy and lovable, I didn't exactly like Wood the first time I heard it. I made a face, said, "This is *nothing* like Bargainville!" and tossed it aside. The secret of Moxy is thus: no two discs are exactly alike. A week later I put it back in, and I listened closer- to the lyrics, the melodies and harmonies, the simple underlying Früvousness of it all. They aren't just fun and games; they're passionate and moody and clever.
My favorite track is definitely On Her Doorstep (She likes my dad/He knew Gordie Howe), but I can't honestly say that I dislike any of the others. All of them are masterful pieces.
Is it a huge departure from Bargainville? Maybe, but it only exposes another side of the group. It had to be done sooner or later.
Früvous is so much more than a comedy routine.

This album is very emotional, It can make you laugh and cry, all within this one CD. I love this album, it may be my favorite, it is much different from their material on Bargainville and YWGTTM.

"wood" is different than any of the other Moxy Fruvous albums, but hey, are any of them exactly alike? this album shows their versatility in styles. if you're tired, feeling down, in a regular mood, or want to listen to good music, this is the cd. for some people, wood doesnt appeal to them at first, but if that happens to you, just listen to it awhile, and it will grow on you. i highly recommend this Moxy Fruvous cd for its uniqueness. As of all Moxy Fruvous cds, i recommend this cd.

Being unable to wait for it to be released in America, I went all the way to Ontario to pick up Wood! Okay, so I was already in the neighborhood, but Wood would (no pun intended) have been enough to validate the trip. It's not as good overall as either of their other 2 full releases, but it has some of my favorite songs by Fruvous, like Nuits de Reve, It's Too Cold, and Horseshoes. This album is a lot more rock-and-rolly and a lot more serious than the other 2, and it sadly has no a capella songs. It isn't totally serious, though, and the humorous songs create a really good mixture. Unlike the other albums, though, this one may necessitate the use of a track skip; not every song is great, but the great ones are enough to make this my 3rd favorite album of the past 5 years (behind Bargainville and YWGTTM). Since you can simply order it here, DO SO!!! or you'll regret it at their next concert.

okay, maybe i should be drawn and quartered for employing such an obvious cliche, but let it be understood that this album is, in fact, highly intelligent, pensive, and emotional, with (ahem) many layers of meaning.

this album seems to me to be about growing pains (actual, not sitcom). for me, this album came at a perfect time: that mid-twenties second coming-of-age, when all the plans i had laid went gang-aft-a-gley, as the poem goes. there's definite angst in this album, but a more muted variety than the ilk so commonly found within the pages of tiger beat. it's the growing pains felt when it's no longer OK to not know what you're doing with your life, even when you have no idea what you're doing with your life.

okay, i didn't intend for this review to be nearly so...autobiographical, but there you go. if i can end by saying that this album had a huge impact on me at a very necessary time, perhaps that will adequately communicate my deep feelings of admiration for both this album and this band.