Donovan Woods-Without People (November 6, 2020) • Page 4

I think Big Hurt Boy works well as an actual release and not just a grab-bag or leftovers, so I wouldn't break it up.

 

Yeah, I'd keep Big Hurt Boy together as well. I'm less attached to They Are Going Away, and could have definitely put at least "What They Mean" on here.

 

Indie store variant up. Snagged this one

Donovan Woods - THINGS WERE NEVER GOOD IF THEY'RE NOT GOOD NOW [Indie Exclusive Lime Green LP] | RECORD STORE DAY

 

New song, written with Lori Mckenna and Matt Nathanson

 

They really seem to have chemistry together. That trio also wrote an awesome Nathanson B-side called "Whitney Houston's National Anthem", too.

 

Pretty sure that’s going to be on Matt’s new album!

 

Have I made you guys listen to this song yet? Only a Donovan feature, but he's so prominent on the song that it almost seems more like his song than Jordyn Shellhart's.

 

I hope so. It's terrific,

 

It's an amazing song, truly. Going to be a tremendous record.

 

When I saw him open for Ruston Kelly he said that "Portland, ME" bought him a Toyota Rav 4 and I think about that almost daily.

Also I'm Around is fucking brutal, I've been mesmerized by that song and video.

 

Doing a listening party at midnight Friday on YouTube. Having a bit of a rough week, but might try and stay up for it. And my vinyl shipped today!

 

Saw the thread was active this morning and caught up on the new singles which are lovely, but I was especially excited to see this. I haven't heard a lot of these songs because I tend to overlook the singles too, but this track listing is excellent!

The fact that he puts out brilliant albums and still leaves off the excellent stuff here is just a testament to his output.

 

Hope you enjoy it! Some of my favorite songs of his are on here.

 

Really enjoyable first listen. I do think the Bonus tracks are better than some of the actual tracks on the record.

"It's Been Like That For A While" encapsulates everything I love about Donovan. He's got this incredible ability to make life's little moments seem so important and relatable. "Last Time I Saw You" is a great example of this. It's a pretty insignificant idea, but the way he writes paired with his melodies makes it pretty devastating.

Excited to dive deeper into it.

 

Im around is a top tier track.

 

Just now getting around to checking any of his "newer" song out, and this verse from "Back For The Funeral" fucking killed me:

After the service we'll all meet up at the bar
Where my dad used to drink, now he just drinks in the yard
And we'll laugh about all the young dumb dreams we had
And we'll pretend we're all only sad
'Cause we're back for the funeral

 

“And I’m in a Hampton Inn fucking unraveling” is such a great line

 

None of the new record is quite as immediate as some of my favorites on Without People, but I do quite enjoy Trompsingel, Living Well, Back for the Funeral, and I'm Around. I've spun this 3 times since yesterday and think it'll get a lot more play. Hoping I connect with it more as it ages!

 

He might have taken the belt of "best songwriter in the world" from Isbell, for me. He's got that Nashville songwriter skill for writing with incredible economy, but the ideas and scenarios he explores are rarely things I've heard anyone else write songs about. Him teaming up with Lori McKenna and Matt Nathanson on "Back for the Funeral" is almost too much songwriting talent for one song. I guess it's not surprising that it's probably my song of the year.

Anyway, really loving this. Probably a tad less than Without People, but there are definitely a dozen or so "holy shit" songwriting moments here for me. "When Our Friends Come Over" hit especially hard.

 

Madi Diaz is great. I also like the guest appearance from William Prince. He’s not someone I listen to often but I’ve always liked his voice.

 

Been spinning this non stop.

1) It’s Been Like That For A While
2) When Our Friends Come Over
3) Back For The Funeral

Some incredible songs on this album.

 

your music league submission of Back For The Funeral spurred me to check out this album and it's fantastic, really great rec.

Feels like a loaded question for someone who seems to have been making music for 15 years, but what other albums are must listens?

 

I’d go backwards from here. Without People and Both Ways are my other favorites in his catalog. But really, you can’t go wrong. They’re all pretty great other than his debut, which is solid but not quite as strong.

 

So glad you dig it! I am still not very familiar with his catalog pre-Without People, but I can wholeheartedly recommend that one (leans a little poppier than the new one) and the Big Hurt Boy EP.

I need to start diving into the back catalog soon because I'm seeing him live for the first time in November!

 

Oh man, you're in for a treat. Both Ways, Hard Settle..., Don't Get Too Grand, and The Widowmaker are all really good.