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Woolly Leaves

Quiet Waters

(Outside Music; US: 19 Sep 2006)

Woolly Leaves don’t leave much to the imagination, with a laidback, slightly tranquil roots-meets-folk feeling oozing out of “Everyone Else”. Lead singer and songwriter Will Kidman has a sincere, earnest delivery throughout many of these songs, backed by a barren background that brings the listener into this numbers quickly. This especially true on the heart-tugging live performance of “Walk With Light”. It’s as if you’re listening into a session that is oftentimes off limits judging by the lovely “People and the Planets” that recalls Luna or a duet between Caitlin Cary and Ryan Adams. Fans of Bright Eyes or a very pared down Calexico would also enjoy “Big City”, which has Kidman not quite singing the song but not speaking the lyrics either. Although there are many strong pieces, perhaps the highlight is “Neverending Song” with its airy harmonies. But despite the flighty feel, the album takes a far darker tone during “Quiet Waters”. The up-tempo moment (if one exists here) has to be the dirge-ish “Soft Place to Call Home”. It’s an album that’s difficult to get into, but quickly difficult to take from your player.

Rating:

Originally from Cape Breton, MacNeil is currently writing for the Toronto Sun as well as other publications, including All Music Guide, Billboard.com, NME.com, Country Standard Time, Skope Magazine, Chart Magazine, Glide, Ft. Myers Magazine and Celtic Heritage. A graduate of the University of King's College, MacNeil currently resides in Toronto. He has interviewed hundreds of acts ranging from Metallica and AC/DC to Daniel Lanois and Smokey Robinson. MacNeil (modestly referred to as King J to friends), a diehard Philadelphia Flyers fan, has seen the Rolling Stones in a club setting, thereby knowing he will rest in peace at some point down the road. Oh, and he writes for PopMatters.com.


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