Review: Will Wood - Broken Man

Over the last five years in New Zealand there has been a noticeable groundswell of talented alt-country songwriters and musicians releasing albums to rival the best coming from overseas. Tiny Ruins, The Eastern, Aldous Harding, Bernie Griffen, Tami Neilsen, Marlon Williams and Delaney Davidson have all garnered hard-earned critical acclaim and many have links with Lyttelton Records - the label behind Will Wood’s new album Broken Man.

Wood is the real deal in the sense that he’s recorded an album that utilises all the central tenets of country music: acoustic guitars, lap steel, violin, banjo, weary vocals and tales of struggle and woe. That in itself is impressive and delivered authentically but Wood also manages to imbue a streak of New Zealand identity in his songs. It’s hard to pinpoint whether it's the unassuming delivery, or subtle drinking references and familiar place names but it is there, buried just below the surface...

Click here to read Chris Familton's full review of Broken Man by WIll Wood, and stream the album in its entirety below.