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Jun 21, 2011 Woods By Aaron Passman

On their sixth LP in as many years, Brooklyn’s Woods tone down the psychedelic freakouts in favor of a folksier sound, reflecting a departure from their breakthrough 2009 disc, Songs of Shame and last year’s follow up, At Echo Lake.

Sun and Shade isn’t without the band’s more extended, noisy introspections—chiefly “Out of the Eye” and “Sol y Sombra”—but much of the record is built around simpler, acoustic-based tracks, further reflecting the influence of early Grateful Dead. That influence is most noticeable on such tracks as “To Have In the Home” and the gentle “Hand It Out.” While At Echo Lake was essentially the same sonic blueprint as its predecessor, the mellower mood here is a marked change from those last two efforts, though it’s not always the most successful of shifts.

Still, Woods’ work rate is stellar, and the record is by no means bad. And it’s probably safe to assume that they’ll have another LP out by this time next year, so at least the mild disappointment won’t linger. (www.woodsist.com)

Author rating: 5/10