[7.23.06] If you have not heard of Alex Woodard, chances are he does not mind too much. Residing in a small north San Diego beach town, he prefers the quiet life of surfing and hanging out with his dogs. While his first three albums were relatively successful, his fourth and most recent, Up With the Sun, will appeal to even wider audiences. The twelve-track, self-produced album maintains some of what Woodard does best: clean songwriting with depth and sincerity while adding a more acoustic approach than his first two albums. "Open Road," a beautiful melodic opener, is a stronger sound for Woodard's vocals (which have been compared to the likes of Springsteen and Petty). However, in other songs, like the upbeat "Lift," and the flowing "I Saw You Here," he seems to have toned it down a bit to create a smooth match and some all-around excellent songs. It's clear that Woodard put his heart and soul into this album without much help of producers or even other band mates. "I Thought I'd Be There By Now," and "Morning", among others previously mentioned, give a very personal glimpse of a soul searching for meaning and yet enjoying life in its simplicity. While the execution might have a raw sound, it by no means brings down the album, the Bonus Track 13 proves his talent in the non-studio setting. Woodard's seemingly and personal approach to the album gives it an organic sound and it works amazingly for him. Nothing about the album seems the least bit commercialized. There's no fancy production, and no over-simplistic, ultra dramatic delivery—it's just genuine uplifting music with lyrical substance and beautiful melodies. And with songs that tend to have a 'feel good' tone to them, Alex Woodard proves himself to be a very talented songwriter. With favorites like the instrumentally rich "Sweet Peace" and the rockin sound of "Way Down There", Up With The Sun is a definite staple in my ipod this summer.

Being a long time fan, I was eagerly anticipating the release of "Up With The Sun." After giving it a listen, I knew right away this was another masterpiece by Alex. From the first song, "Open Road," to the final track, "Morning," this cd does not dissapoint. Once again Alex shines as a true storyteller. He tells stories of life, love and heartache. These songs are beautifully crafted. Alex's beautiful, rootsy voice, along with the wonderful instrumentation creates an album full of emotion. Just listening to "Adelaide," in which Alex apologizes to a girl about the mistakes he made, is bound to arouse emotion in the listener. Songs such as "Way Down There" and "Ten Summers Later" showcases Alex ability to create catchy tunes that you'll soon find yourself singing along to. Whether a long time fan or you're just looking for a new voice, this cd is a must.