I… Read Full Bio ↴1. Wood is an experimental noise/ambient music project started in 2023
2. Traditional Rock and Americana from James Maddock and company.
He's just an ordinary guy. We know that because he's forever telling us he's just an ordinary guy in that likable, down-to-earth, "fancy a drink, pal?" sort of way.
But how many ordinary guys do YOU know who amble nonchalantly on stage looking as if they're about to pick a fight with a karaoke machine and then sing with a sublime power that charms and chills in equal measure? How many ordinary guys do YOU know who write a whole catalogue of songs with such emotional depth that they sound like classics the instant you hear them?
He's a Midlands lad called James Maddock from the English city of Leicester, famous for... well, Leicester's not famous for anything at all really. But for years, he's had this unfeasible dream of making wonderful music under the name of Wood and, hey, dreams come true.... "We used to be called 'The Gift Of Love,'" he remembers, "and we were talking one night about music and I said, 'On all the records I really love -- like Dylan and The Band -- you can picture the room they're playing in and you can hear the wood.' And it suddenly hit me. WOOD! That was the name I wanted for my band."
James picked up his first instrument -- the ukulele that his granddad used to play in wartime bands -- at the age of eight. His dad, an optician, filled the house with jazz and if you venture into Leicester on a wet weekend you might still find Mr. Maddock playing in a jazz band in some remote corner.
"By the time I was 14, I started thinking seriously about being able to play the guitar," James recalls, "and I was pretty good at it. I had this great guitar teacher and at the end of a lesson he'd say, 'You should check out this record by Neil Young.... ' I worked on a market stall on a Saturday and I'd go in, get my wages, and then go and buy a Neil Young record. And the next week he'd say, 'have you heard Ry Cooder...?,' and it went on from week to week... The Eagles, Jackson Browne... and all the West Coast stuff...."
"Then I found Born To Run at a friend's house and it completely blew me away," he continues. "I was a big Bruce fan, still am. The Band's second album was a seminal influence on me too. Bob Dylan is a big hero for me."
James Maddock moved to London when he was 20 and served his apprenticeship in covers bands working the ...ahem... boisterous London Irish pub circuit. He played in the Arsenal Tavern, North London, every weekend for several years, an achievement that surely merits some sort of long service gold medal award. It was hard, the audiences took no prisoners and you could play there for a hundred years without being discovered, but James wouldn't have missed it for the world. And besides, from this unglamorous environment of beer, tobacco and loud covers of old standards and the hits of the day, the first splinters of Wood began to emerge about three years ago. "I took over as singer and started doing my favorite songs -- Creedence Clearwater Revival and Bob Marley stuff -- but all the time I was also writing my own songs."
They even recorded some demos of his material (at Abbey Road Studios, no less, where they fantasized about being rich and famous as they arrived to be gawked at and have their pictures taken by Japanese tourists) and waited for unspeakably lavish offers to flood in. Strangely enough, they didn't. But James somehow knew his music's spiritual home was America. "Two of the albums I most identify with are Late For The Sky (Jackson Browne) and Harvest (Neil Young). I love songwriters and I try to combine melodies and story. I've always liked my music to be quite gentle, with an acoustic, friendly feel...."
At a time when nothing got signed in the UK unless it came with nasal voices and loud twanging guitars and could be marketed as "Brit pop," James suddenly found himself flown to New York where a chance play of the demo sufficiently impressed Columbia Record executives to offer him a record deal. Classic songs. Beautiful melodies. Great lyrics. Choruses just made for dancing on the ceiling. A voice to sell your grandmother for. Where had this boy BEEN all their lives?!
"They got me to fly out there and do a gig in their offices!," James exclaims. "It was pretty scary! You spend all your life trying to get to this point and suddenly you're standing there with your guitar and it's all hanging on what you do in 20 minutes in that office."
The boy obviously done good. His old Leicester schoolchum, Bill Newsinger (guitar), and the other two Wood mainstays, Jim O'Malley (bass) and Steve Jackson (drums), found themselves finally summoned to Tongue & Groove Studio in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, to record, with producer Dave "Stiff" Johnson, the album they'd begun to despair would ever get made. "It really is a dream come true!," James admits. "When you've spent so long scrubbing around trying to get £50 together for rehearsals you think it will never happen. But when it does happen it's a huge responsibility. I'm learning a lot about myself through this."
The first Wood album, Songs From Stamford Hill, is not only full of unfeasibly memorable melodies and immaculately crafted songs, it has some telling lyrics. "I'd written hundreds of songs before," James estimates, "but when we called the band 'Wood,' everything seemed to fall into place." The album's title was inspired by the area of London where James was living at the time most of the songs on the record were written.
You may already know the opening track, "Stay You," which is featured on the best-selling Top 10 album Songs From Dawson's Creek (Columbia/Sony Music Soundtrax). "Never Ending," the album's closing song, is another key track, a particularly poignant, nostalgic autobiographical song about growing up in Leicester and losing touch with schoolfriends. All of James' years of frustration are reflected in the lyric of "Knock It On The Head," in which he promises to allow himself just one last crack at this music nonsense before giving it all up to get a proper job. Then again, you don't have to spend long in his company to know he could NEVER give it up!
James has a rare way with a sentimental love song, as well. "I really love 'Our Time Has Come', it's so SOPPY!" he laughs. "There's only about three chords in it too, but there's a symmetry as well." And then there's 'You Make Me Feel Bad.' "Oh, that's about a girlfriend who made me decorate the apartment about four times," he admits. "I'd do it and she'd turn round and say, 'Oh I don't like that color!.'" All human life is here.
Wood. Crazy name. Perhaps. Ordinary guy. We think not!
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(3)Wood is rapper from Houston, Tx.
He is member of S.U.C. ( Screwed Up Click) & Half Dead Organization.
(4)Wood is also an instrumental band from Wheaton, IL. They are, what you call, like-minded forward thinkers. http://www.myspace.com/ourbandwood
(5)Wood is also a project by Wouter 'Wood' Loderichs, operating from Apeldoorn, The Netherlands . On his debut he mixes hiphop, funk, rock, blues and a tinge of industrial. More info can be found at his MySpace page.
(6) Wood is also a young Norwegian pop comet, also known as Elsa Marie Skjong. http://soundcloud.com/woodnorway/wood-honey-youre-a-dog
7. Stoner/Doom Metal from Rennes, France
Bandcamp
8. French rapper signed to GrintaRecords who started in 2020
https://www.instagram.com/woodsvs_/
Balance
Wood Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Drinkin' too much, but let me get another cup, oh (told you)
Losin' my balance
Swear I, I, I, I, I, I, I (told you)
Remember when I, I, I, I, I, I, I (told you)
Every time I, I, I, I, I, I, I (told you)
You don't listen every time I try to, try to
Every time we link up it's a drama ting with you, girl
I turn down need a double double here
Why you tryna bring your double trouble 'round here
More drinks tell 'em bring the D'Usse
Tryna figure out there'd be a stop there
I told you, don't let them control you
They can't fit in your shoes
You tellin' me old news
Blah blah blah
All I hear out your mouth baby
All talk cuh mi talk lady
Just me once you call
I don't need love, but I might probably fuck it up, oh, ayy (told you)
Drinkin' too much, but let me get another cup, oh (told you)
Losin' my balance
Swear I, I, I, I, I, I, I (told you)
Remember when I, I, I, I, I, I, I (told you)
Every time I, I, I, I, I, I, I (told you)
You don't listen every time I try to, try to
You don't listen when I try to tell you things
Like I ain't lookin' for love, girl I met you in the club
We was just high off some drugs
I hit you off in the bathroom
Then we took it to the backseat
You want that good like the taxi
Stand down, stand down
Trippin', I don't even understand now
Fall in love wasn't in the plan no
Give you my heart, I can't, no
I'm too busy chasin' these bands
I'm too busy chasin' the lean with the Xans
Girl I thought I told you, I can't talk if I'm sober
I don't need love, but I might probably fuck it up, oh, ayy (told you)
Drinkin' too much, but let me get another cup, oh (told you)
Losin' my balance
Swear I, I, I, I, I, I, I (told you)
Remember when I, I, I, I, I, I, I (told you)
Every time I, I, I, I, I, I, I (told you)
You don't listen every time I try to, try to
I don't need love, but I might probably fuck it up, oh, ayy
Drinkin' too much, but let me get another cup, oh
Losin' my balance
Swear I, I, I, I, I, I, I
Remember when I, I, I, I, I, I, I
Every time I, I, I, I, I, I, I
You don't listen every time I try to, try to
Told you
And I told you
And I told you
And I told you
And I told you
The lyrics of Wood's song "Balance" portray a narrative of someone who is struggling with their emotions and relationships. The first verse suggests that the person recognizes their own tendency to sabotage potential love connections, indicating a fear of messing things up. The repeated phrase "told you" emphasizes the singer's self-awareness of their past mistakes.
The following lines describe the singer's indulgence in excessive drinking, symbolizing a coping mechanism or an attempt to escape from their problems. Despite this, they continue to seek more alcohol, indicating a cycle of self-destructive behavior. The repetition of "losin' my balance" further reinforces the idea of being emotionally unstable or unable to find equilibrium in life.
The second verse addresses a specific individual, possibly a romantic partner, who brings unnecessary drama into their relationship. The lines "don't talk too much, don't laugh too much" suggest a need for a calmer and more balanced connection. However, it seems that the person the singer is addressing is hard to communicate with and does not listen to their advice or attempts to reason with them.
The third verse reveals further complexities in the singer's relationships. They express frustration that their attempts to communicate their intentions or desires are not being heard or understood. The mention of meeting in a club and being under the influence of drugs indicates a casual encounter that was initially devoid of emotional attachment. However, the singer still notes that they can't fully commit to love or vulnerability due to their focus on material pursuits and substance abuse.
The repeated chorus reinforces the themes of the song - the singer's reluctance to embrace love, their reliance on alcohol as a crutch, and the recurring frustration of not being heard or understood. The repetition of "told you" signifies the singer's longing for the other person to listen and understand their actions and intentions.
Overall, "Balance" explores themes of self-sabotage, emotional instability, and the struggle to establish harmony in relationships. It highlights the internal conflicts faced by the singer, ultimately revealing their fear of love, their inclination towards destructive behavior, and their longing to be understood.
Line by Line Meaning
I don't need love, but I might probably fuck it up, oh, ayy (told you)
I have convinced myself that I don't require love, but I am aware that I have a tendency to sabotage it and make mistakes.
Drinkin' too much, but let me get another cup, oh (told you)
I indulge in excessive drinking, yet I still desire another drink to numb myself further.
Losin' my balance
I am struggling to maintain stability in my life and emotions.
Swear I, I, I, I, I, I, I (told you)
I strongly emphasize and repeat my previous statements and warnings.
Remember when I, I, I, I, I, I, I (told you)
Reflecting on past occasions where I clearly expressed my thoughts and opinions.
Every time I, I, I, I, I, I, I (told you)
Highlighting the frequency at which I have tried to communicate my thoughts and feelings.
You don't listen every time I try to, try to
Expressing frustration and disappointment with your consistent inability to listen and understand my attempts to communicate.
Don't talk too much, don't laugh too much
Requesting that you refrain from excessive talking and laughing, as it often leads to unnecessary conflict and tension between us.
Every time we link up it's a drama ting with you, girl
Observing that whenever we spend time together, it inevitably becomes filled with drama and conflicts due to your actions.
I turn down need a double double here
Expressing a desire to calm down and lower my intensity, as I require a double dose of relaxation and tranquility.
Why you tryna bring your double trouble 'round here
Questioning why you are attempting to bring additional problems and complications into our already challenging situation.
More drinks tell 'em bring the D'Usse
Desiring more alcoholic beverages and instructing others to provide the specific drink brand 'D'Usse.'
Tryna figure out there'd be a stop there
Attempting to understand if there will ever be an end to the turbulence and difficulties in our relationship.
I told you, don't let them control you
Reiterating my previous advice to not allow others to manipulate and have power over you.
They can't fit in your shoes
Asserting that the people attempting to control you are incapable of understanding your unique circumstances and experiences.
You tellin' me old news
Noting that the information you are providing me is outdated and no longer relevant.
Blah blah blah
Dismissing your words as meaningless and unimportant.
All I hear out your mouth baby
Acknowledging that everything you say appears to be superficial and lacking substance.
All talk cuh mi talk lady
Stating that although you may talk a lot, I can also engage in conversation and hold my own.
Just me once you call
Revealing that you only reach out to me when you are in need or facing a problem.
You don't listen when I try to tell you things
Expressing frustration with your consistent failure to pay attention and understand when I attempt to share important information or advice.
Like I ain't lookin' for love, girl I met you in the club
Clarifying that I am not actively seeking a romantic relationship, as our encounter occurred in a nightclub setting.
We was just high off some drugs
Reflecting on the fact that we were under the influence of drugs during our initial interaction.
I hit you off in the bathroom
Recalling the intimate encounter we had in the restroom.
Then we took it to the backseat
Continuing our encounter in the privacy of a car's backseat.
You want that good like the taxi
Highlighting your desire for pleasurable experiences similar to those provided by a taxi, depicting a transactional nature.
Stand down, stand down
Requesting that you calm down and refrain from causing further conflict or trouble.
Trippin', I don't even understand now
Feeling confused and unable to comprehend the situation due to the intensified tension and emotional turmoil.
Fall in love wasn't in the plan no
Expressing that developing romantic feelings was not part of my initial intentions or goals.
Give you my heart, I can't, no
Declining to offer my heart and emotions to you, as it is not something I am willing or able to do.
I'm too busy chasin' these bands
Indicating that my focus and energy are devoted to pursuing financial success.
I'm too busy chasin' the lean with the Xans
Explaining that I am preoccupied with seeking a state of intoxication through the consumption of lean (codeine cough syrup mixed with soda) and Xanax (a prescription anti-anxiety medication).
Girl I thought I told you, I can't talk if I'm sober
Reminding you that I have previously informed you that I struggle to engage in conversations and communicate effectively when I am not under the influence of substances.
Told you
Reiterating my previous statements and warnings.
And I told you
Emphasizing once again that I have communicated this information to you before.
And I told you
Stressing the importance of understanding that I have expressed these thoughts and sentiments to you multiple times.
And I told you
Continuing to reinforce the fact that I have given you this information on previous occasions.
And I told you
Repeatedly reminding you that I have conveyed these messages to you repeatedly.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: DANIEL DALEY, DANNY DOVE, DENZEL SPENCER, PAUL JEFFERIES, RAKIM HASHEEM ALLEN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind