Music Review: The Wood Brothers - Loaded - Page 2

You'll hear Medeski's subdued organ occasionally along with the Brothers — and on about half the cuts, Kenny Wolleson's drums. There's a small string arrangement here and there. It's still plenty rustic enough though, and that's a welcome relief.

The other big distinction of Loaded is that the majority of the twelve numbers played on this record were co-written by the Brothers. With each living in different parts of the country and heavily involved with their respective bands, composing songs together must have required a big commitment from both.

It's a commitment that has paid off well, though. While Ways got by on charm alone, the Wood and Wood songs on Loaded carry the day this time.

"Postcards From Hell" is memorable for it's Jerry Jeff Walker-esque character sketch of a talented, but struggling troubadour who's got the ability to sing the blues so well because he's "got a soul that I won't sell and I don't read postcards from Hell."

"Pray Enough" is a funky gospel that preaches "if you're going to be the fool then you better be tough." "Loaded" is a slower, cowboy number about saying regrettable things after drinking too much. "Twisted" is almost like a companion to "Loaded," in that the narrator is relating the sorry state he's in, but the song has a much stronger blues element.

Chris makes his debut lead vocal turn on his own composition "Don't Look Back." He's not a terrible singer, but before I checked the credits I thought the brothers brought in a female guest vocalist to sing the part. Perhaps that's another way of saying that one song with a lead vocal is good, but anymore than one would have been too much.

I'm happy to report that his bass playing, all of it acoustic, is as solid as ever. Some listeners may notice that it's a little further up front in the mix than what's normal for simple folk-blues, but it's not too intrusive. You won't hear Chris play many solos or go hot-dogging it; he knows his role on this record and uses it to augment his brother, not upstage him.

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