George Woods - Heartbeat

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George Woods – Heartbeat
2012, George Woods

Boston singer/songwriter George Woods explores deep emotions and deeperthoughts on his debut album Heartbeat.Earning comparisons to artists such as James Morrison and Ray Lamontagne, Woodssings with a singular voice about human frailty, insecurity and hope amidstdeeply nuanced and often beautiful folk/rock arrangements.

Kicking things off with "Overture/Rewind", Woods makes hisintroductions through a finely crafted orchestral entr'acte. The non-linguisticvocals create an eerie air that's stark and lovely. "Shake My Soul"is driven by the sort if hopeless urgency that's born of burgeoning andsometimes unrequited love. "Wasn't Enough" is an energetic and messybreakup song that's an interesting mix of darkness and light. There's adistinct pop feel at the heart of this song, an air that is complicated bymessy layers and an unpolished sound that's fitting here.  "Stock In The Stars" is aninfectiously upbeat bohemian folk rocker about the hopes, dreams and theredeeming power of love. Woods is entirely on here, in one of the most endearingsongs on the album. "Marry Me" is just what it sounds like. The funkinfused soul pop number is from the heart, and has the potential to become amix-tape and dedication favorite.

Woods takes a more desolate turn on "Chapter 3: The Moon", mixing voicesand strings in a brief bit repetitive cantata that seems incomplete."Running Away" takes more focus on while exploring an inexplicabledraw to flight and how that tendency comes face to face with unexpected love.The song is a disorganized mess musically, but manages to work in spite of this(perhaps because the presentation and the message are so closely aligned).Woods returns to a dark and lonely musical landscape for "You Are TheMoon", written from the depths of unrequited love. There is an elementalbeauty here, with the distance finely etched into haunting vocals and strings.

"Heartbeat" sinks into morass where lust overcomes love and goodintentions. Woods once again ventures into messy musical territory inconjunction with a messy emotional story. "Trying To Get Back" startsout disheveled, but resolves in its final 30 seconds to a bright and airyfolk/rock song. "Lucky One" celebrates being in love in joyous terms.The funky folk-rock style has an easy, swinging feel that reflects the carefreenature of the moment captured here. "You Are The Sun" takes a moreesoteric look at the same emotions as Woods contemplates having come fullcircle. This turns into a mid-tempo waltz that is perhaps overly emotive but isgenerally well done. Woods closes with the requisite happy ending on "TheWedding Song". Wind chimes and stumbling guitar walk guests down the aisleto their virtual seats, while Woods incantation the past ala Sting on "TheSecret Marriage". The song is a reflection backward from the mundane giveand take of everyday life years later. Woods creates a moment here that ispalpable and decidedly real.George Woodsreflects the emotional highs and lows of love in the music of heartbeat, Thejourney through quiet desperation; falling in love; getting married and intothe mundane existence of everyday life captured in words and notes throughout Heartbeat.  The end result is as hard to get through attimes as individual moments along the way, but the presentation is wonderfullyartistic and real.  Woods does have adistinctive melodic sensibility, and likes to play off the beaten path attimes, but he’s a gamer, always gutting out the rough performances but as oftenas not turning in a gem.Rating:  3.5 Stars (Out of 5)Learn more atwww.georgewoodsmusic.com