Aron Wright – In The Woods

In the Woods, the debut album from Nashville artist Aron Wright, is a gentle and meandering exploration of life, music, love, and, well, pretty much everything. And, unlike the leagues of other young male falsetto-voiced singer-songwriters out there today, his songs contain a sweet and piercing sense of truth.

Wright’s voice and lyrics weave the comfy sweater that you pull on when the whole world is against you. Curling up and losing yourself in his pleasantly poignant words and simple melodies just feels like the right thing to do when you need some “me” time. That’s not to say that the tracks on this album are self-indulgent or pandering – instead, they feel like an intimate glimpse into the songwriter’s own thoughts.

Wright strove to keep the arrangements simple throughout the album, which serves to emphasize the introspective nature of his lyrics. The final lines of “You Left Your Mark” (I can’t help but think of you/ when I’m kissed in the dark/ you may have been the wrong one, girl/ but you left your mark) leave one thinking of first loves and lost opportunities. The bittersweet “Pretty Girl Cry” is perhaps the most standout song on the album.

Most tracks share an Alison Krauss-like country leaning, but Wright imbues his music with his own blend of folk, blues, and soulful indie. It would be going a little far to say that his is an entirely new sound, but Aron Wright does something with this sound that isn’t often heard – he makes it pleasant to listen to. As a definite non-fan of musicians like John Mayer and Jack Johnson, Wright should have been like kryptonite to me. Instead, I found myself falling into the lilting piano and robust trumpets with a smile on my face.

The lullaby-like tones of final song “To the Country” tie up the album nicely with adorable declarations like “I’ll build you a house/ or I’ll find someone who knows how” and some catchy hand-clapping. The musical arrangements may seem stark to some, but their simplicity is such an integral part of Wright’s overall sound. His voice would be overshadowed by a full band, but when accompanied by one robust guitar or one happy ukulele, his angelic tones shine through.

Tagged as: Nashville, singer/songwriter

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