Jen Wood

Finds You in Love (New Granada)

By Eleanor Whitney
Published: September 19th, 2010 | 1:00pm

Musical times have changed since singer-songwriter Jen Wood began playing shows in the riot grrl group Tattle Tale. Her new record, Finds You in Love, has a distinct Seattle sound, but it’s a sound far closer to the introspective indie rock of Death Cab for Cutie than the blaring grunge of Nirvana. This is a fully developed album recorded with a full band, plenty of backing vocals and strings, and extra guitars layered in to flesh out the sound. Wood’s songs are skillfully wrought with plenty of builds, breaks, and choruses, and the structure feels tighter than on some past releases such as Getting Past the Static (Win) where some cuts dragged on for up to ten minutes.

Wood’s voice is clear and sure even when the lyrics plumb the darker depths of emotion. She’s not afraid to face up to hard truths, such as on opener “Pills” and “Zeppelin,” and searches for and finds courage to feel better despite the difficulty (“Trust”). Wood takes a bold stand and asserts herself in her lyrics, though she’s more third wave feminist than feminist folk.

While the production on the record is rich, Wood’s skillful guitar playing still takes center stage along with her sweeping melodies. Finds You in Love is a record of emotional scars, survival, and all the upheavals and redemption that love can bring.

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Jen Wood official Web site

Jen Wood MySpace page

New Granada Records