Album Notes

Sometimes you are fortunate enough to find an album that clicks with you the instant you put it on. Some Thing Knew was one of those albums with me. The combination of violin, bass, guitar and drums produces a sound that you don’t find in most bands. Birds In The Woods are a mixture of acoustic, fusion and jazz and then they toss in a bit of jam, in the likes of Dave Matthews.

Some Thing Knew is the band’s debut album and what a gorgeous offering it is. With each track you seem to notice a different facet of their style. The album opens with The River a funky jazz number along the lines of Mingus and Nathanson. Jerry Says has a bit of an alt-country feel, a little reminiscent of Dave Matthews, but really Birds In The Woods have a sound unlike any other. One of the stand out tracks is Postcards which starts with the strains of Sue Buzzards violin, which takes center stage throughout the song. That violin is more important than any guitar when it comes to the music of Birds In The Woods, its what makes them different. Not to diminish the fantastic guitar playing, especially on songs like Saviour and Memorable Meeting, where the guitar just sweeps you up and carries you off with the song.

George Woods handles the vocals and he does so in a way that seduces the listener, drawing them with a voice that has a hint of the familiar. There are several vocalists that come to mind when you hear his voice, David Gray instants pops to mind, especially with the more acoustic tracks, but don’t waste your time trying to think of too many comparisons, this album is too good to waste your time thinking about anything other than the song that’s currently playing. This is a band that has it all together, superb musicianship, lyrics that are more than just words that you sing along to, and a vocalist that delivers, maybe not a one two punch, but the style of music Birds In The Woods makes doesn’t require that.

Some Thing Knew is music to chill out to, to snuggle with a loved one, be it human or the furry variety. Its music that will get you swaying across the dance floor or the living room floor, or wherever you happen to be. Its moving. Its complex. Its beautiful.. Its sexy. Its passionate. Its all of those things and more, it just depends on how you feel when you listen. One thing is for sure the music is full of emotion, thanks to George’s wonderful vocal talents.

The music of Birds In The Woods will make you feel wonderfully alive while listening to it, and it will brighten your mood for a long time after. Some Thing Knew is an album that you can play over and over without getting tired of hearing each track. In fact, I wouldn’t recommend listening to it only once. These songs need to be played repeatedly so you can savor every nuance. This is an album that fans of more modern jazz stylings and casual listeners will embrace. Its definitely one of the best albums of 2009 from a jazz standpoint and very close to the top for the best of 2009 overall.

Reviewed By Andrea Guy of vinyl&vodka

Music Fans will flip over the musical style of Birds in the Woods. They have created a unique & funky sound that mixes elements of Funk, Acoustics, Rock, and Jam music into one melodious sound. The band's... CD titled "Some Thing Knew?" is a combination of excellent songwriting and creative flows. Lead singer, songwriter, and guitarist George Woods adds strong vocals to the band.

Add the wonderful talents of musicians Sue Buzzard on violin, Tyreek Jackson on bass, and Massimo Buonanno on drums, music fans will have a wonderful and exciting experience that will redefine the definition of music.

-Isaac Davis Jr. - Music Reviewer and Editor in Chief of "Juniors Cave"