Review by Ritchie Birnie for MPM
Is there a better feeling in this world in discovering a band you instantly fall in love with? Wood Burnt Red have just added the UK to the Deep South and given Nashville notice that these boys are the real deal.
This is a call to arms for fans of Blackberry Smoke, Whiskey Myers and The Cadillac Three and like those bands you have some amazing musicianship and a sense of humour like the Outlaw Orchestra. This is pure shit kicking music with a cheeky grin and a kick like a cowboy boot up the ass.
The album opens with “Best Things” and the humour kicks in immediately along with a hoe-down vibe that is brilliant. It may be tongue in cheek but unfortunately it is far too close to home.
“Fire Me Up” comes out of the gates like a bull at a rodeo. This is a rocked up monster that hits with a serious punch. This is where the musicianship really shows. The guys know how to write a killer track.
It is time to put the smile and good time vibes down on “Count My Blessings”. A song about addiction recovery and it hits hard. The emotion of the lyrics carries through the song and Tom Franklin makes you believe every word as the rest of the band take the message and ramp it up. This is just sublime.
“Bartender” has already garned a lot of attention and it takes the grit from the previous track as it tells a story that every single one of our hearts has felt…we just want to be heard sometimes and who better to listen than a bartender? The song is steeped in Country and filled with awesome guitars.
Did I really say this was a fun album? You may not think so as we slip into “Drifting” which is based around depression but as deep as the song is it is absolutely beautiful. Tom Franklin is outstanding on vocals. The instruments stay in the background to let him breath as if they know exactly what is needed with the state of mind and the space that is required.
The atmosphere is still down on “One Chance” and once again we have another stunning track. This is the band’s love song and a promise. A promise that is kept if the outcome that was expected was a deep and haunting track.
“Every Road” sounds like a drunken jam around a firepit. It has a sweet message that you just want to listen, enjoy and raise a glass too.
You may have heard of Karma is a bitch but very rarely do you see it in action but “Time’s a Healer” makes me happy that it will actually appear. This made me happy in all manner of ways but forgetting the lyrics the song just hits hard. This is music that just makes me smile.
As these songs roll along I could not be more aligned with a band. Musicaly stunning and lyrically so on my wavelength and “Simple Place” had me sit back in my chair and just go wow. How many times can I say how impressed I am by this album but this song is just incredible. A track about taking stock of life and doing what we all should. It also helps that Tom sounds like Scott Stapp here. With just one play I took this album straight into my soul.
After such an emotional ringer “To the Moon” lifts everything, tempo, catchiness and the feel good factor are back. This song has a swagger all of its own and this will get you signed up for line dancing lessons or piano classes.
We have all had a friend like final song “Where are you Now” describes. It kicks of like a rocker then folds into a ballad and those deep tones of Frank kick in as he lets you know about disappointment and realisation. Add this one to the powerful pile as once again you will see your own life sung right back at you. It has the words that maybe you haven’t or didn’t.
This song builds throughout and as the guitar breakdown kicks in you will be sold. One of the strongest tracks on the album.
Hold on Tight is an incredible album full of music, stories and life lessons. This is an album that demands attention. In a day and age where we actually have things like AI music Wood Burnt Red fill my heart with hope that talent and songwriting will never go out of fashion.
This is an emotional, funny and powerful release that I know will revisit time and time again and now I truly hope these boys manage to play a show in my hometown of Glasgow so I can thank them in person for such a beautiful release.
The CD and vinyl edition of the album is available to pre-order here –
http://www.woodburntred.com/
The digital edition of the album is available to pre-save here –
https://ffm.to/holdontight_wbr
