Will Wood | The Normal Album (2023 Edit)

Description

In 2023, Wood secretly worked with producer Kevin Antreassian on a new mix of his top-selling LP “The Normal Album.” Digging into the original 2019 recordings for more muscular takes, smoother edits, and a more nuanced and balanced mix, Antreassian and Wood created a version of the fan favorite that is one of the rare cases where a new mix is widely considered to improve on the original noticeably. “The Normal Album” is yet another turn in Wood’s discography, sardonically playing with Americana and doo-wop sounds, strategically restrained but still highly emotive vocals, and lyrics densely packed with scientific and philosophical references. The dark mania of Wood’s prior 2016 release, “SELF-iSH,” continues on some tracks but is arranged with greater precision with a new band at his command. Like his 2015 debut “Everything is a Lot,” the songs whiplash tonally but are brought together through intertwined themes and recurrent musical motifs and an undercurrent of simultaneous obtuseness and vulnerability. After the original mix of “The Normal Album” was released, a live version of the 4th track on the LP, “I/Me/Myself,” had an unexpected viral moment, which brought attention to many other songs on the LP. Songs like “2econd 2ight 2eer” and “Laplace’s Angel” continued to attract new fans with their dense wordplay and high-energy attitude, and the album became Wood’s first major break into larger notoriety, proving that his sudden burst of popularity was not just a fleeting trend. After taking some time away from the public, Wood began to revisit the album with the intent of giving it the production that he had originally envisioned for it.

Track Listing

Suburbia Overture 2econd 2ight 2eer Laplace’s Angel (Hurt People? Hurt People!) I/Me/Myself …well, better than the alternative.

outliars & hyppocrates: a fun fact about apples blackboxwarrior – OKULTRA Marsha, Thankk You for the Dialectics, But I Need You to Leave. Love, Me Normally (2018 Mix) Memento Mori: the most important thing in the world

Sales Points

• FFO Mr. Bungle, Andrew Bird’s Bowl of Fire, Shayfer James

Press Quotes

Masterful… By refining the technical elements without compromising the album’s emotional core, Will Wood has created something that feels both familiar and new — a fresh lens through which to hear an already intricate and layered piece of art

—Varsity