Song of the Day - December 1, 2006

As the year progresses, I realize I am becoming a bigger and bigger fan of music labeled New Weird America, psych-folk, freak folk or whatever the nome de plume is of the genre today. The sound of Wooden Wand and the Sky High Band best epitomizes the sound that infatuates me these days. Their release, Second Attention, is an awesome accumulation of free-folk jewels. A collaborative effort with members of Skygreen Leopards, The Vanishing Voice, and Davenport, Wooden Wand evokes memories of Dylan and Neil Young. James Toth's vocals are very reminiscent of Dylan, especially on tracks like "Dead Sue." I love every track on this record, so picking a favorite is extremely difficult. Having said that, I nominate "Mother Midnight" as my favorite track; I love the moaning chorus, Toth's vocals, the electric guitar solos, and the overall vibe of the song. Click here to listen.