My first introduction to The Wooden Sky was their brilliant cover of Colorado Girl by Townes Van Zandt, whose influence can be heard on many of the songs on this, the band’s sophomore release. The songs move seamlessly across genres from tender folk to country ditties and raucous rock ‘n’ roll, weaving a strikingly beautiful narrative about change, leaving and the paradoxes within. The lyrics on the Blitzen Trapper-meets-Hayden-sounding alt-country track Bit Part talk about how “there will always be some things that stay the same, even in a crazy world of constant change,” and move from that abstract statement to the concrete image of changing the locks on a house. The songs here are well-written, honest and layered with eclectic instrumentation. It’ll be a pleasure watching them open for Elliott Brood this Wednesday, Sept. 30 at the West End Cultural Centre.

Published in Volume 64, Number 4 of The Uniter (September 24, 2009)