Title: Field Medicine
Format Reviewed: MP3
Format Released: 18th March
Reviewed By: Millie Manders
Generally speaking, this début solo record from JT Woodruff (of Hawthorne Heights) is the sort you want on vinyl, in your lounge when you're feeling melancholic, with a glass of bourbon and your memories. It's got some head bops and toe tappers in there and a surprise party track too mind, so be careful not to spill that tasty liquor.
Field Medicine is an enigmatic pop record from a blues and country background. For the English lot not necessarily familiar with this style, you might loosely liken it to Mumford and Sons. It is also reminiscent of early Ash and a little bit like Owl City. Musical puritans will hear influences from people like Tom Petty, Bruce Springsteen and Johnny Cash.
The album begins with Raindrops. It's brooding and melancholy. The guitars are dark and deep under soft emotive vocals: a good opener, pulling the listener straight in to JT’s musical journey.
Field Medicine, the record's namesake is a gentle, Blues-Rock track that feels like it moves through you. It's soft and inviting in a way that makes you want to hide under the covers with your significant other and stare into their eyes: I think of lazy Sundays and good coffee when I listen to this song.
There is a fair amount on this record that becomes quite “samey” and as a result I found myself skipping tracks to find the parts that piqued my interest, however it is clear that this is an album created by a guitarist. The variation in styles used is exemplary. It is also apparent that it was created with passion.
Candle On The Still Water is my favourite track on Field Medicine. It's a song to cry to. Pleading, haunting, lovely. There aren't many songs that twist your gut and make you think about the things that ripped your heart out. The last one that did that to me got tattooed into my skin for my Nan as a goodbye...A song called Hear You Me by Jimmy Eat World. It's a good ten years old now.
This album has some real highs in it. JT's voice cracks with emotion in places and it is disarmingly honest in it's presentation. It's not a whole album buy in my opinion: I would probably download five or six of my favourite tracks, but that's no mean feat in a world where albums often only have one good track these days and it's been a while since I got emotional on a first listen of a song. Definitely worth a listen.
JT Woodruff is on tour with the rest of Hawthorne Heights across Europe through April and May.
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