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Album Details

• Artist: The Promise Ring
• Album: Wood/Water
• Label: Anti
• Year of Release: 2001
• ME Rating:
• Reviewed by: dscanland on 2003-03-31

While Very Emergency was one of my favorite albums, it took me a while to get the gist of Wood/Water. As you have probably heard by now, this album is completely different than anything the band has done in the past. It is mellow and quiet and strays far from the pop immediacy of Very Emergency. With chimes dinging every once and a while and vibes here and there you can’t help but wonder what Promise Ring was thinking. I know exactly what they were thinking. After release such a pop perfect album like VE there was no further they could have gone in that territory. Really, the only familiarity here is Davey vonBohlen’s whispy voice. This switch in direction can only really be accredited to Davey’s benign fist-sized brain tumor. This allowed the band to kick back and take their time writing and recording Wood/Water. Mario Caldato Jr. does a fine job in the mixing booth as well. The album is crisp and very enjoyable despite their change in direction. So while the may have lost a few fans in the process, The Promise Ring delivers a mellow and laid back record of introspective songs that should appeal to some fans and gain some along the way.

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