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_/
Ending
Wood Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
There's a river full of memory
Sleep, my darling, safe and sound
For in this river all is found
In her waters, deep and true
Lie the answers and a path for you
Dive down deep into her sound
Yes, she will sing to those who'll hear
And in her song, all magic flows
But can you brave what you most fear?
Can you face what the river knows?
Where the north wind meets the sea
There's a mother full of memory
Come, my darling, homeward bound
When all is lost, then all is found
The lyrics of Wood's song "Ending" evoke a deep sense of exploration, self-discovery, and the inherent connection between nature and personal growth. The song portrays an ethereal landscape where the natural elements of wind, sea, and a river meld together.
The first verse opens with the line "Where the north wind meets the sea," which sets the stage for a mystical journey. This line suggests a meeting point where contrasting forces intersect, symbolizing the meeting of different aspects of oneself or the blending of different elements of life. The river, described as "full of memory," represents a repository of experiences and lessons that have shaped the singer's life.
The line "Sleep, my darling, safe and sound" introduces a theme of protection and reassurance. The river is portrayed as a nurturing force that offers safety and comfort. It is a place where one can find solace and feel secure amidst life's uncertainties.
The second verse encourages the listener to "dive down deep into her sound" and explore the river's depths. The water is described as "deep and true," suggesting that the answers and guidance one seeks can be found by delving into one's inner self. However, the cautionary warning "But not too far or you'll be drowned" reminds us that self-reflection and introspection should be balanced and not taken to an extreme that overwhelms us.
Further on, the song suggests that the river possesses a mystical power to communicate with those who are receptive. It states that the river "will sing to those who'll hear" and that within its song, magic flows. This could symbolize the transcendent nature of self-discovery and the potential for profound transformation that lies within.
The final verse adds another layer of significance to the lyrics. It introduces the idea of a mother figure "full of memory," suggesting a loving presence that guides and offers a sense of belonging. The reference to being "homeward bound" implies a return to a place of emotional connection and wholeness. The lyrics imply that even when faced with loss or adversity, there is always the possibility of finding what we seek and rediscovering ourselves.
In essence, Wood's "Ending" conveys a message of introspection, resilience, and the power of connecting with nature. The song invites us to explore our inner selves, heed the wisdom of our experiences, and find solace and guidance in the embrace of Mother Nature.
Line by Line Meaning
Where the north wind meets the sea
At the boundary between the cold north wind and the vast sea
There's a river full of memory
There exists a river that contains countless memories
Sleep, my darling, safe and sound
Rest peacefully, my beloved, in a state of security
For in this river all is found
Because within this river, everything can be discovered
In her waters, deep and true
Within the profound and genuine waters of this river
Lie the answers and a path for you
Reside the solutions and a journey meant for you
Dive down deep into her sound
Plunge into the profound essence of her voice
But not too far or you'll be drowned
But beware not to venture too far, or you may perish
Yes, she will sing to those who'll hear
Indeed, she will serenade those who are willing to listen
And in her song, all magic flows
In her melodic composition, all enchantment emanates
But can you brave what you most fear?
However, are you willing to confront your deepest fears?
Can you face what the river knows?
Are you capable of confronting the river's profound knowledge?
Where the north wind meets the sea
At the convergence of the brisk north wind and the boundless sea
There's a mother full of memory
There resides a maternal figure who embodies memories
Come, my darling, homeward bound
Come, my beloved, it is time to return to our true abode
When all is lost, then all is found
When everything appears to be lost, that is when everything is actually discovered
Lyrics © Walt Disney Music Company
Written by: Kristen Anderson-Lopez, Robert Lopez
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
DutchyDubs
This is amazing! I got goosebumps all over the place!
Vuchs
Nostalgia, oh jeah! Great job! =)
Midge2006
Oh my goood!!!!! Love it! =D
Venus di Castellamare
Awesome!
CreaMazinG
Chances of searching these old theme songs and then playing a Parker 🤣
Frankie Max
This music comes from up high matey 💗😁🐸
Ponyactive
hey! dude.. are you still alive? if so, if you can remember anything from this song it would be helpful.. i play the piano, and i'm trying to learn this song.. i've tried the melodica, but everything i play sounds different and wrong.. not by much, but either its the progression or whatever.. help?
Kevin McNally
Kevin McNally