Tim Woods — “For You” — Self-release
The talents and the musical styles of guitarist / singer / songwriter Tim Woods are hard to characterize. Let’s just say they never fail to impress with their creativity, eclecticism and musical exploration. And it’s fine listening as well!
It’s also worth noting that I’m influenced by the fact that we are both Western Pennsylvania natives — Woods hailing from Sardis, a small town east of Pittsburgh in the Murrysville area, for those of you with a specific geographical interest.
Also, for Pittsburgh and blues guitar fans, Woods was influenced by his guitar instructor, Ernie Hawkins, a notable Pittsburgh blues musician and master of the complicated finger-picking style of the Reverend Gary Davis, with whom Hawkins had studied. So it’s not hard to see, and hear, the historic blues DNA in Woods’ background.
That background may well have led to Woods’ excellent first album in 2010, “The Blues Sessions,” recorded during a six-month studio tour of Clarksdale, Atlanta, and Chicago. It featured 16 guest musicians, including such legendary artists as David “Honeyboy ” Edwards, Big Jack Johnson, John Primer, Bob Stroger, Bobby Lee Rodgers, and Jeff Sipe.
Here’s what I wrote about that album:
“Woods has put together an amazing set of tracks featuring some classic and some not-so-classic blues, in which he displays serious guitar chops (he plays and picks with his thumb, allowing him to play lead and rhythm), and a nice gritty voice for the music he’s selected. It’s not enough that Woods sounds like he found Chicago and the Delta somewhere in the depths of Western Pennsylvania, but he’s surrounded here by musicians who bring a powerful blues history to the music.”
To illustrate how Woods has indulged his musical creativity, his album “Vortex,” which came just before this one, was an exercise in sonic experimentation. Here’s what I wrote about “Vortex”:
“The first words on the first track, “Ready” are “I’m always dreaming…” and lure you right into this dreamy-blue landscape of music and lyrics. It’s sometimes a trippy throwback to ’60s psychedelia, moody blues and new-age rock, if there is such a thing. It’s enchantingly tough, inspired by a vortex of feelings, and, maybe, just one toke over the line. Pay close attention to Woods’ creative guitar work and his lyrical wordsmithing.”
All of this is to make the point that Woods’ music never stops moving. This session was recorded in Georgia with producer and multi-instrumentalist Bobby Lee Rodgers, with Paul Hornsby on organ and saxophonist Erik Lawrence.
“For You” is filled with a variety of original songs and styles that kick off with the tough rocker “Can’t Stop Rockin’,” whose sound reminds me of the Doors for some reason, but nonetheless stands all on its own. The title track follows, a swinging love song filled with a rich instrumental tapestry.
“Are You Kind?” contains one of those ’60s-style odes to peace, love and guitar. “It’s True” is a gentle ballad full of mystical lyricism and energy. The funky instrumental “Mimic” draws on Woods’ jam-band youth, and “Low Down Blues” gets down with a strong vocal turn (“looking for peace in this madness … get rid of these lowdown blues.”)
“Believe” pays lyrical homage to the strength of quiet perseverance, “Reaching Out” throbs a near-hypnotic energy that could well have roots in North Mississippi Hill Country trance music, “The Story” is an ethereal journey with an other-worldly message that rocks with worldly persistence. The exotic closer, “Within,” adds an introspective note of mystical-sounding harmonies, sort of its own magical mystery tour of a special night.
“For You” is a magical mystery tour of music and lyricism from the musical imagination of Tim Woods. Take the trip with him.
Here’s a fine interview with Tim Woods by Michael Limnios on the Blues Gr blog.
I couldn’t find any video from this album, but here’s a 2020 video of a live performance by the Woods Family Band.
“For You” Tracklist:
1. I Can’t Stop Rockin’ (3:48)
2. For You (2:41)
3. Are You Kind? (4:37)
4. It’s True (3:49)
5. Mimic (2:48)
6. Low Down Blues (3:35)
7. Believe (4:49)
8. Reaching Out (3:48)
9. The Story (5:28)
10. Within (4:38)
Blues Roadhouse 