Woodpecker F-Hole Review

Artist: Woodpecker
Title: F- Hole
Website: http://www.woodpeckermusic.com
MySpace: http://www.myspace.com/woodpeckermusic
Style: Punk-Americana/ Bluegrass
Rating: 7.5 out of 10
By C.W. Ross

 

Where should I start with trying to describe the band Woodpecker? They started out in 2002 in Chicago redoing punk tunes to a bluegrass style of music. The group disbanded in 2003 and reformed again in 2005 in Brooklyn with the addition of Al Huang (mandolin, vocals), and Andy Xue (cello) with original members  Jordan Anderson (banjo, vocals), and Josh Steinbauer (guitar, vocals).

 

If you removed the lyrics from the songs and just listened to the instruments you would find that their Americana/Bluegrass style of music would bring a smile to Ricky Skaggs, or Bill Monroe with all of its banjo, mandolin, and smooth vocal harmonies.

 

The band doesn't stop there though they layer on top of the music their punk attitude lyrics that take this release in an all-new direction. The lyrics for the first 7 songs have their fair-share of curse words so that you won't be hearing them on anything but college or underground radio stations.

 

The band takes on girlfriends, pompous people, people who don't pick up after their dogs, working at a corporate job, the ups and downs of life, religion and last but not least they give rapper Eminem a bitch slap that would make Mike Tyson proud.

 

As you probably figured out by now this is not your average release. This takes probably the most traditional American form of music and stretches it's boundaries like a devilish kid playing with Silly Puddy.

 

There's no middle ground with this band your either going to love their inventive style and wear out the CD from playing it so much or hate it as much as someone making an awful screeching chalkboard sound.

 

Either way one thing that can't be denied is that this group of musicians have talent.