ACCLAIMED SONGWRITER DONOVAN WOODS' FOURTH FULL-LENGTH ALBUM OUT FEBRUARY 26
LISTEN TO AND SHARE “THE FIRST TIME” HERE
WATCH THE ALBUM TEASER VIDEO HERE
PRE-ORDER HARD SETTLE, AIN’T TROUBLED TODAY
“Canada’s best kept secret,” songwriter Donovan Woods, is ready to take the wraps off his upcoming LP. Hard Settle, Ain’t Troubled is set for release onFebruary 26 via Woods’ own label, Meant Well. Continuing his simple mantra - ‘good songs win’ - Woods’ strong belief in the power of a good melody and the importance of everyday language rings through on Hard Settle, Ain’t Troubled.
The record follows up his previous JUNO Award nominated album, Don’t Get Too Grand, and features some familiar tracks - “Portland, Maine” which has been recorded by Tim McGraw and “On The Nights You Stay At Home” which recently spent four weeks in the top three on CBC Radio 2’s Top 20.
Produced by James Bunton (Evening Hymns, The Wooden Sky), Hard Settle, Ain’t Troubled is a record that is purposeful and honest. “For the first time I had a budget, and I was able to hire all the people I wanted,” says Woods. “The danger in that is that you might let people play on the songs only because they’re really good at playing. We tried to make sure every decision best served the song in question, and likely removed as many things as we added. My hope was that we’d make a record that pulsed with the stuff of real relationships and difficult decisions.”
Today listeners are treated to another glimpse of things to come on Hard Settle, Ain’t Troubled with album cut “The First Time”. “I was recently reminded that people's 'first times' are most often not that good, and I think that's definitely right,” explains Woods. “To me, it's about memories getting better with time, and coming to terms with the fact that you can never experience something the same way again because your memory of it is completely made-up. It's also about not being able to measure up to someone's idea of you.”
Pre-orders of Hard Settle, Ain’t Troubled will receive an instant download of “The First Time” and “On The Nights You Stay Home”.
LISTEN TO AND SHARE “THE FIRST TIME” HERE
PREORDER HARD SETTLE, AIN’T TROUBLED VIA ITUNES HERE
LISTEN TO “THE FIRST TIME” VIA SPOTIFY HERE
LISTEN TO “THE FIRST TIME” VIA GOOGLE PLAY HERE
While amassing a catalogue of rousing and acclaimed music of his own, Woods’ has worked with some of the top songwriters in North America to craft cuts for performers ranging from Alan Doyle to Charles Kelley of Lady Antebellum. It’s not that Woods makes music that is a product of both country and folk; it’s that he makes music that shows how distracting the line separating the two can be. Like with so many songwriters of note, what matters isn’t what you call it, or where it comes from, but the stories you tell, and the voice you use. And whether it’s Tim McGraw singing from atop a full-throttle stadium-show stage or a line whispered by Woods himself in a more intimate environment, one thing remains clear: Woods’ is a voice that demands attention.
Woods’ recently finished up a string of tour dates with Hawksley Workman, Terra Lightfoot, and The Bros. Landreth. Tour dates supporting Hard Settle, Ain’t Troubled will be announced shortly.
HARD SETTLE, AIN’T TROUBLED TRACKLIST
01 What Kind Of Love Is That?
02 On The Nights You Stay Home
03 The First Time
04 My Good Friends
05 They Don't Make Anything In That Town
06 We Never Met
07 Do I Know Your Name
08 Between Cities
09 May 21, 2012
10 Leaving Nashville