Wovenhand
 

I saw someone mention Wovenhand's newest release in the "Top Albums of 2010" thread so I checked them out. I'm very glad I did, he's (they're?) easily one of my new favorite artists.

Rateyourmusic calls it "gothic country", but to me that sounds like one of those stupid hipster genres that got fabricated solely to be used by music elitists. I'd loosely describe it as Folk with a dark sound and religious themes.

David Eugene Edwards has a fantastic voice that fits the music perfectly. It's heavy and foreboding, and it all sounds like one big ominous incantation. The instrumentation is never boring. One of my primary turn-offs with traditional folk is that, simply, the acoustic guitar gets tiresome rather quickly. Wovenhand is fond of "strong acoustic pickings, a gloomy backing wall of sound, and occasional solo parts of various instruments that really work."

I'm a fan of 16 Horsepower, but haven't bothered to check out Wovenhand. Might be a good time to do that.

I'm the reverse. Downloading my first 16 Horsepower album now.

both bands are amazing...although i tend to listen to 16HP a bit more....David's voice is unlike anyother....and yes the new album is by far one of their best...it blew me away when i got it

which album are you getting?

Sackcloth, in FLAC!

"perhaps we better start from the beginning"

by far their best album....this and Folklore are always on rotation here :)

Low Estate is my personal favorite, but Sackloth is great too.

I cannot decide which one I like more, 16 Horsepower or Wovenhand, but what is certain is David Eugene Edwards signature all over both bands. My favorite Wovenhand album is definitely Consider the Birds, the one I listened to the most with such strong, magnetic songs like 'Sparrow Falls' and 'To Make A Ring'. Although I must say I haven't heard the new one yet. (I'm not counting 'youtube-ing')

I see what you mean about 'gothic country' tag RVCA, but that is just a shelf for cataloging to make it easier for critics and fans. As is always the case, it's hard to put the most individual bands in the shelves and all these terms should be taken loosely even though they're convenient sometimes. That said, 'gothic' implies a certain romanticism, idealizing of past times, and playing with dark. There's a bit of that in Wovenhand themes and music, but what is more important for their work is not romantic at all. It's the conviction and true religious belief with which David Eugene Edwards expresses himself, all with self doubt, redemption, inner conflict and hope. It's very refreshing to hear such honesty and that's why Wovenhand is so magnetic.

I've heard Consider the Birds, as well as Ten Stones, although I can only really get into the latter. Not One Stone is an excellent track. Any other album reccomendations from them?