The Wooden Birds
Two Matchsticks
Barsuk
Andrew Kenny
has not slowed
down since indie-rock
favorite, the
American Analog Set, disbanded after
nearly 10 years in 2008. After leaving his
spot in Columbia University’s Ph.D biochemistry
program in 2003 to devote a
full-time schedule to music, he’s also toured
and worked with the likes of Broken Social
Scene and Ola Podrida. With a recent move
from Brooklyn back to his Texas roots in
Austin, Kenny is now fronting the Wooden
Birds, who are embarking on a North
American tour in support of their sophomore
release,
Two Matchsticks.
While the Wooden Birds’ sound is a
departure from the layered, drone-pop styling
of the American Analog Set, Andrew Kenny’s
marquee guitar work, progressions, and storytelling
about life, love, and heartbreak are
omnipresent. This record draws on rich and
dynamic folk rock with subtle backing beats,
all held together with hypnotic crooning by
Kenny and other members of the band.
The Wooden Birds boast a solid lineup
of three other Austinites—drummer Sean
Haskins, and guitarists-singers Leslie Sisson
and Matt Pond.
Magnolia, the Wooden Bird’s
first release, was conceived by Kenny before
the band actually existed. In the case of
Two
Matchsticks, the majority of the songs were
played and worked out live before going into
the studio—a methodology the band was
pleased with as it allowed them to set the
songs’ tempo and styling before rolling tape.
That said, one beauty of this album is that
the live sound of the Wooden Birds is not
necessarily captured on the recording. Yes,
Kenny’s trademark guitar sounds ooze from
the album, but he is the bassist for this collaborative
effort while on tour. Additionally,
you won’t hear any drums on this album—like
Magnolia, most all the backing rhythm
beats were created by banging on Kenny’s
“world’s most poorly cared for” Gibson J-45,
along with some maracas and tambourine.
The Wooden Birds have concocted a
superbly blended elixir of vocal harmonies
and atmospheric twang with a spot-on balance
of folk-pop, country, and indie flavor.
Movingly catchy, soft, and beautiful, this
record will quickly inspire the need to take
a summer road trip.