Offering up an Album so richly mixed and weaved between Blues and Soul, is not an easy task, but Woody Russell has managed to do it, seemingly effortlessly, with his newest release, "Up Against It".

"Up Against It" consists of 9 Tracks and clocks in at around 37 Minutes, which is not that long compared to a lot of Albums out there today, but it does feel a little longer than that, thanks in part, to the length of the Tracks, which are mostly in the 4+ minute range.

All songs for "Up Against It" are Originals, all by Woody Russell. That of course is a daunting enough task for any Artist, but Russell's credits on this Album do not stop their, in fact far from it, he also Produced "Up Against It", Engineered and Mixed it, did the Cover Art Design, and oh yes he played all the instruments except for Harmonica (Jose Rutz) on Tracks 2, 4 and 6, and Drums (Doug Marcus) on Tracks 2 and 4.

Woody Russell also uniquely marketed this project by way of something he called the "In Session Project", which offered his fans an opportunity to preorder "Up Against It" and when they did, they received "access to a behind the scenes look at the making of "Up Against It", in real time." From beginning to end, the fans who preordered, got to see the entire process of a an Album being created from start to finish, and as a added bonus they also received their copy of "Up Against It" before it was officially released. This successful Project is something that more Artists should be thinking of doing.

As mentioned earlier, "Up Against It", is a unique mix, no actually fusion of great guitar Blues and Soul, at least that is what I get from it. It is also done in a way that I thoroughly enjoyed it, as I am not a big fan of straight soul music, but this is different, unique, and refreshing.

Woody Russell's musicianship and vocal delivery on this Album are second to none, he really is a very good musician and an exceptional singer and lets not forget his Songwriting that seals the deal for this Total Package Artist.

Woody Russell fully understands that the lines between different genres of music are a bit blurred and quite often weave back and forth across their borders. "Up Against It", is a superb example of what happens when an Artist is able to use that fact to create yet another special bit of musical magic.

For those that like the Blues, artfully mixed with Soul, you are going to really like, "Up Against It".

"Up Against It" gets a high recommendation from me as it shows us what a an exceptionally creative Artist can achieve.

Review By John Vermilyea (Blues Underground Network)

Other Info And Reviews

Album Notes

Woody Russell blows apart any preconceptions about what his next move might be: "Up Against It" is his long-awaited new album on the CUTS Music Group label. This vibrant blues/soul outing is a testimony to Russell's long held passion for the blues. Across nine tracks the recording highlights his incisive guitar chops in a way that no previous release of his has and brings new meaning to the term "contemporary blues". But, in addition to the stinging fret-board firepower, Russell's vocals pour on the soul and remind us that he absolutely means every phrase, every word. "Up Against It" celebrates, aches, rocks and soothes; his most thoroughly potent recording to date. Here's proof that modern blues is alive and well, and in good hands; not just because he can pull it off, but because - as Woody himself has stated - it's his "only way forward".

Woody Russell's distinctly soulful performances have already won him the respect of audiences around the country. With the release of three previous albums on his CUTS Music label – including the 2006 IMA "Album Of The Year" nominated Salt - and performances at countless venues from clubs to the prestigious Newport Folk Festival, Russell's top-notch songwriting, guitar playing and showmanship have been years in the making.

Woody is proud to be an official Grosh Guitars Artist.

Tracklist

 1. Make It Tough On Me 2:58
 2. That's Just the Way My Wheels Roll 3:17
 3. They Won't Know What Hit Them 4:15
 4. Under My Door 3:56
 5. The Right Side of the Grass 4:57
 6. Moonshine (For My Wounded Heart) 4:57
 7. Don't Bring It Home 4:12
 8. The Things We Do 7:05
 9. Between Nowhere and Goodbye 4:13

Listen To Samples Here...

About Woody Russell

“I wasn’t sure that I would release another record,” says Woody when asked about the four year gap between Salt and the sessions he’s now begun for Up Against It. Though it was nearly four years between Time To Go and Salt, at that time, Woody had relocated from Seattle to Austin with his wife Jeanne. He was performing steadily, touring some outside of the region, getting a new band together and by the time Salt was being recorded he and Jeanne were also preparing for the arrival of their daughter, Lily. “It's been a life changing event becoming a father”, Woody says of the three years since her birth. He makes clear that it was certainly a positive, but, significant shift for a struggling musician just breaking out onto the national scene. 

Prior to that "baby makes three" moment, in August of ’05 Salt was officially released to coincide with Russell’s Newport Folk Festival performance. Both the new CD and performing at the renowned festival were, unquestionably, career highlights. Salt was a highly praised addition to Woody’s discography, garnering excellent reviews and an IMA nomination for "Album of the Year" in 2006. Though he has increasingly kept his performances closer to home since his daughter's birth he did tour on the heels of that CD, playing folk festivals and clubs - often as a solo act. He began, however, to have doubts about where he was going to go next after a decade of working as a performing songwriter.

“I’m grateful to have been invited to perform at major folk festivals and to have toured as some sort of troubadour from Texas. But, truth be told, I was never comfortable playing a set between a bluegrass band and a straight-up folk singer. I’ve only seen a couple of blues acts at the festivals I played. I don’t think of myself as a folk artist or even part of the crop of modern singer-songwriters in any way. I have never fully embraced that scene, though it seems I was working a lot within it for a decade.”

When faced with the concept of recording a new CD – and in response to questions from fans – Woody was not sure how, if at all, he would approach the process. “I’m definitely not interested in pigeonholing myself as part of the current indie-songwriter scene.” He continues, “I am a songwriter, but that term encompasses a lot more to me than a guy and his acoustic guitar in search of the next clever turn of phrase. To think about staying competitive, to invest in trying to work on that scene is not something of interest to me. It would be a dead end artistically. Like trying to drive using only the review mirror, you know. I’ve already moved on.” Woody began to very seriously consider closing the door on a recording career that began in earnest with 1996’s …as simple as that with a respectable finish like Salt. Thankfully, for fans of his music and those yet to be, a quiet departure is no longer on his radar.

Woody has continued to work more and more as a guitarist/producer out of his own studio and as a sideman fairly frequently, too. Of those opportunities he notes that, “Working with other artists has played an important role in my understanding of what really matters to me about the music I create.” He adds, “and fans keep reminding me, too, that my music matters to them. It gets me thinking about the life my music has on its own.”

He wonders if working as a guitarist for other artists may have been the primary catalyst that brought him “back from the brink” and states that he was “a guitarist first” long before he became a songwriter. “I can honestly say that my love of the guitar is what always keeps me pushing forward. That and I love to sing, which has always been with me since I was very young. But, I'm forever a student of the guitar, that's the best thing about it, really. Every day I get to learn a little more... it's a child-like thing, this fascination with the guitar.”

A changing music industry may have also been a catalyst in Russell’s desire to reconsider a new album.  “Anymore, the old concepts about how music is made, marketed, purchased and supported are all being thrown out the window.”  Perhaps, for Russell, in that understanding gave way to a realization that a freedom exists to make the kinds of changes necessary to stay creatively healthy.

“What matters now is how each independent musician chooses to go about getting their own thing into the ears of music lovers. Music fans want to hear great new music. They can support your work without the big machinery that was once the music business.”

As an independent musician, an artist is responsible for every aspect of their career. One of the primary responsibilities may be to reassess where one is at in their career and pay close attention to the inner compass, if you will, that guides them to what they hope is the right decision. It would seem, without doubt in Woody Russell’s mind, that this artist is very sure of where his own reassessment has lead him; and it has lead him to the blues.

“I’ve always played the blues in my live show; sometimes more often than others depending on the band I had at the time. It’s always been a huge influence and part of my music. The blues and jazz are my teachers, both as a guitarist and singer. Soul and country – classic country – are a big part, too, but probably more of an influence on my songwriting style. B.B. King, Ray Charles, Howlin’ Wolf, Marvin Gaye and George Jones live on the same street in my vision of a perfect musical neighborhood.” Woody continues, “It’s all about soul; genuine heart and soul.”

To consider Up Against It, his new recording that’s underway – one that has a definitive blues stamp on it - a new turn in Woody Russell’s career would not be an understatement. In fact he considers it long-overdue and an opportunity to make inroads into a scene that he so deeply admires. “Admittedly,” he begins, “I love the idea of the guitar-slinger, you know. It seems like something that has to be earned, that ideal, for it to really be convincing. You gotta play your ass off, be honest and be soulful, and that stuff doesn’t come cheap. There is a price to pay, a lot of years and a commitment to the music and what it means to carry a torch for the blues. It requires a lot of respect.”

Russell is revitalized by the notion bringing his brand of the blues to a whole new audience as well as his longtime fans who are already used to thinking of him as a guitar wielding singer-songwriter. For the challenge of it, certainly, but he would add that it’s more for the love of the music itself. “The blues is a music that anyone can get and anyone can feel. It’s something you can relate to easily because it’s about fundamental human things, you know. That big groove and sound... it can transform a venue and get people moving when they didn’t expect to be. I think the world needs this music. I know it got inside me long ago and it’s been a very good friend ever since.”

Up Against It is slated for a Spring 2010 release. Woody is poised to take another huge step forward with the introduction of this album. With regard to releasing the first blues album of his career he says, “My only regret is waiting so long to give it its due. I guess without knowing it, I was just waiting for the right time and now is that time. It's my only way forward.”

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