Music Review: The Wooden Sky, Let’s Be Ready

By Melissa Bratcher

Imagine that Boz Scaggs, Dr. John, and Van Morrison somehow had a baby and that baby happened to sing for a Toronto-based rock band. That band would have to be The Wooden Sky, who have just released their newest album, Let’s Be Ready. Lead singer Gavin Gardiner has the kind of bluesy, soulful voice that sometimes sounds remarkably like the three previously mentioned titans. And that’s great. Sometimes, though, Gardiner’s yawp could benefit from a little enunciation.

Let’s Be Ready treads a line between rock of the indie variety and a rootsier version, settling somewhere in the middle. The opening track, “Saturday Night,” cloaks heavy lyrics with a driving beat and a chorus shot through with lovely harmonies. Fuzzed-out guitar builds a foundation for a smart chiming riff. It’s a fine kick-off to the album, and things stay strong with “Our Hearts Were Young.” Lush back-up vocals and layered guitars add to the dreamlike vibe, and Gardiner delivers his vocals almost impressionistically, like a poet spitting out words. The finest moments, though, are Gardiner’s vocals on the chorus. When he strips away vocal tics and lets fly, he’s brilliant. The same goes for “Shake For Me,” where Gardiner’s wobbly low notes give way to a glorious wail.

“When The Day Is Fresh And The Light Is New” is galvanic with a gorgeous, echoey guitar. The drum sound on the quixotic “Write Them Down” is fascinating and cavernous.

Two stand-out tracks are “Kansas City” and the title track. “Kansas City” begins simply, starkly. Gardiner’s words are a bit difficult to understand, but the feeling is there with his boozy bawl and the song builds to an epic restraint. Better still is “Let’s Be Ready.” Its finger-picked, delicious acoustic guitar is nimble and here the imperfections of Gardiner’s voice are charming; a crack in the voice, a slide to falsetto. It’s utterly gorgeous.

Let’s Be Ready has some fine moments, but it suffers from too many songs sharing a similar (mid)tempo, as well as the sometimes unintelligible lyrics. The feelings are there, but it’s a chore to figure out just what’s being said at times.

Let’s Be Ready was released on June 16 from Nevado Music.

Tour Dates:
6/16: Saint Paul, MN @ Turf Club (Communion Club Night)
7/8: Philadelphia, PA @ Kung Fu Necktie
7/9: Washington, DC @ DC9
7/10: Brooklyn, NY @ Cameo Gallery
7/11: New York, NY @ Rockwood Music Hall
7/13: Boston, MA @ Middle East Upstairs
7/24-26: Seattle, WA @ Capitol Hill Block Party
w/ TV on The Radio, The Kills, Built to Spill
8:6: Everett, WA @ Summer Meltdown Festival
8/7: Portland, OR @ Bunk Bar
8/9: San Francisco, CA @ Leo’s