Album Notes

Pierce Woodward's second solo release is a collection of songs that explore the choices Americans make every day as free thinking citizens of a nation at war. It includes a song about coming to terms with the abuse of detainees ("Dramamine Drowsy"), a ballad examining the murder of independent journalists in Baghdad ("Palestine Hotel"), and a track detailing the ease with which mainstream American life moves along in the face of daily tragedy around the globe ("Diplomat Voice").

The album ranges musically from playful pop songs ("So," "Spiritual Healer") to tracks rooted in the traditions Woodward discovered while he was the bassist in New York's "trad is rad" string band, The Mammals ("Palestine Hotel," "Holy War"). He toured far and wide with the group for two years before splitting off in 2004 to focus on his own repertoire. After touring solo in the fall and winter, he headed into the studio with co-producers Ken Maiuri and Max Feldman to track the ten songs on Blow Them Away. Maiuri also penned one of the songs on the album ("Tell Me the News"), a tale of disillusionment with the mainstream news media.