Dan's Pick of the Week: At Bay by Wooly & the Mammoth

     I had previously reviewed the song “Troubles From So Long Ago” from this band, but now they have released an EP titled At Bay which includes this track as well. Brooklyn’s Wooly & the Mammoth has such a ripened sound that doesn’t feel like they only started last year. As I have stated earlier, the band is a mix of current folk groups. It would be hard to pass their music without wanting to hear more.  

     “We Are Love” opens the album with much energy, carrying duel vocals by Ian Holubiak and Ali Schilder. The song, “Fallen Down” is an alternate version of the first release. The two recordings are practically the same except for the beginnings. What bothers me about this version is the shouting in the first couple measures, because it has such a random appearance in the beginning that clashes with the rest of the song. Not to mention that it has been done countless times in popular music. “Troubles From So Long Ago”, however, remains untouched from before, which was a better decision. I do believe that this is their more outstanding track. "The Rain Will Come" is catchy and has a very welcoming feel to it, but my favorite song would have to be “Premonitions of War”. The driving force and explosiveness of it all can match that of Mumford and Sons. The final track, “Carry On”, is a lighter tune with a large buildup from beginning to end, which is always a good way to end an album. 

     It is well worth giving a listen to At Bay because of its steady upbeat feel and catchy tunes. Wooly & the Mammoth is certainly building up to becoming a great band. I look forward to more of their releases.

     

Listen to the full album here!

http://woolyandthemammoth.bandcamp.com

Dan's Track of the Moment: Troubles From So Long Ago by Wooly & the Mammoth

A great way to start out the new year is an introduction of an indie folk band that hails from Brooklyn, NY. They are “Wooly & the Mammoth”. The group of talented musicians have an upcoming release of their very first EP, and are now preparing to move out of New York City. They are expected to arrive in Philly towards the end of February.

So far they’ve released three original songs up for download, and I’m impressed of how well they arrange their instruments. The sound that they create is both new and old. One could easily relate them to other indie folk bands like “Fleet Foxes” or “Tallest Man On Earth”. Their sound is a battle between the ages, for example, the electric guitar gives their songs a modern, alternative feel to it, while the violin gives them a bit of authentic revival. Ian Holubiak’s voice reminds me of Billy Joe Armstrong’s, but at the same time he can remind me of Bob Dylan’s. Both voices annoy me at times, but don’t worry he pulls it off pretty well.

The song, “Troubles From So Long Ago” is a great tune. It’s catchy and it has a nice buildup from beginning to end, starting with just the guitar, then adding on strings, vocals, drums, bass and electric guitar. The instruments are evenly balanced too, meaning it’s not just a mash up of sounds. I can pick out what is what, which is good to have in a song. The guitar solos mix with the violin solos and lyrics really well, ending the song with a bang.

“Wooly & the Mammoth” has a great sound, and I believe these musicians have a promising future ahead of them. I look forward to more of their releases.  You can download a free copy of the track on the widget below.

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