Josh Woodward is a musician who has at least 9 albums of free music on his website released through the Creative Commons License meaning that it is free to use legally in any project as long as proper attribution is made. It's all very good but I run into problems suggesting it to everyone. He has a very needlessly dark feel for what is mostly acoustic music and a cynicism that permeates the lyrics. Instrumentally he is awesome and the melodies to many of the songs are so infectious that I can't forget them but his downtrodden look on the world leaves me with a bad taste in my mouth. Great example is a newer single he wrote after Haiti ("Motionless Land") as a tribute to those suffering depicting his feelings of how glad he is that he'll never be in that kind of danger and how he's struggling just as much so he can't support others. Crazy addicting but sickening for me to listen to. He tries to be generous at the end of the video but the song contradicts those sentiments completely.
Even the couple that have a much more light-hearted feel ("Snooter" is a great one) still have a depressing self-righteous view at parts that doesn't sit right with me. Definitely give him a listen as it is very good music but be forewarned that it may not be what you're looking for.
Hey Cody! Thanks for the review. Actually, "Motionless Land" is using irony to make a point, where the narrator is oblivious to the fact that his personal problems are inconsequential compared to the suffering overseas. There's already enough "We Are the World" tripe out there, I wanted to write something that makes people think, even if (and especially if) the narrator makes them scream at their speakers. ;)
ReplyDeleteMost of my music has a dark undercurrent because life has a dark undercurrent. Writing about unicorns and rainbows would get tiring for me. I've always preferred darker music, and since I'm not trying to make a career out of music, I can afford to write for the 4.295% of people who like the same style as me.