Flophouse Jr - Woodland

  by Malcolm Carter

published: 17 / 12 / 2001

Label: Flophouse
Format: CD

intro

Flophouse Jr. are something of a mystery. Not much information is forthcoming about them. So, apart from some notes regarding the recording of the album and a list of the players, we do not know much

Flophouse Jr. are something of a mystery. Not much information is forthcoming about them. So, apart from some notes regarding the recording of the album and a list of the players, we do not know much about the group. In some ways this is good. Not knowing their influences or if they have made any other records means we only have the music on this album to judge them by. The prominent instrument on some of the songs here is the banjo, which is unusual but that gives Flophouse Jr. an advantage in some ways over other alt. country/rock acts. It makes the whole of this album more interesting and surprisingly the banjo is really effective on these songs giving them a nice, warm lazy feel. The name of the album is really appropriate for the music on this album. It is best listened to surrounded by... well woodland actually, but if stuck in the city it has that certain ability to transport you to such a place. It is ideal for a lazy summer day, and walking through the woods or lying in a field . Kicking off with possibly the best track on the album, ‘Field Of Corn’, which again is an apt title for the feeling that the song conveys, the banjo takes lead straight away. For someone like me, who is not really a fan of banjos, it is really surprising how good and natural it sounds. There is definitely something happening with these songs and it is hard to pin point exactly what makes them so appealing. Maybe it is the banjo, maybe it’s the minimal but warm production, maybe it’s that they sound like a more countrified Wilco in places. Maybe it’s just that they have come up with a new take on the alt. country/rock sound. The second track, ‘Things I Coulda Have Been’, abandons the banjo and we get the feeling that maybe it was only the first track which featured the instrument so prominently but no, it’s back with a vengeance from the third track onwards. ‘Things I Coulda Been’ really shows how good singer Jon Wood’s world-weary vocals are. The lyrics are thought provoking and also a little mysterious at times. This album is full of wistful songs and the only really uptempo song is ‘Amos Homestead’ which coincidentally is the only song here which falls below par. Wood’s forte is obviously with a melancholic sound. What we do know is that the group is a three piece, Andy on bass (and coffee grinder), Susan on vocals and xylophone and Wood on guitar, vocals and banjo! This is obviously Wood’s band. He wrote all the songs and produced and engineered the album. Everything was recorded on a four track analogue machine in a small Vancouver apartment. Wood’s idea was to record in an intimate, relaxed atmosphere on a simple system. It’s an idea that has worked. This music would lose it’s charm if over produced and Wood has managed to capture the spirit of the band in the recordings. The sound of a band obviously in love with the music they are making. For those in a lazy, reflective mood a walk through Woodland is highly recommended.

Track Listing:-