Woods seem like such an unassuming band. I can imagine them sitting in the back of the classroom in 2nd grade, getting good grades but being very quiet. Never really raising their hands but knowing the answer if called upon. I make the comparison to children because At Echo Lake feels like a very naïve and playful record, never lingering too long on one particular idea and easily bounding from one song to the next. And this is meant as a wholehearted endorsement of that sound and energy. With the songs being based mainly around acoustic arrangements, the songs have to hit that immediate note with the listener to be particularly effective, and each song on At Echo Lake is successful in that respect, in its short tenure. I think the short runtime may be part of this albums charm; it never overstays its welcome and still manages to convey in half an hour, the emotional resonance that many albums can’t manage in 70+ minutes. The move away from the quasi lo-fi aesthetic, which, though not nearly as prevalent as Wavves or Meth Teeth, is a welcome change that brings out a cleaner and crisper sound than was evident on Songs Of Shame. At Echo Lake is an album that could easily be looked over in a year full of dominant, powerful records, but sometimes it’s the quiet ones that have the most staying power.
Tracklisting:
01. Blood Dries Darker
02. Pick Up
03. Suffering Season
04. Time Fading Lines
05. From The Horn
06. Death Rattled
07. Mornin' Time
08. I Was Gone (listen to the mp3 below)
09. Get Back
10. Deep
11. Til The Sun Rips
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