James David Wolf

James David Wolf's Trazodreams Have Become A Reality!

2013-02-28T12:03:00.000-08:00

It's here folks! James David Wolf's follow-up release - Trazodreams - is equal parts beauty and provocation. Fans of James David Wolf's debut Special will instantly recognize and appreciate his observations and his ability to articulate them with keen wit and romantic honesty. In addition to this release, below is the first video from Trazodreams for the song entitled "Tricks I Play On Myself".

Here's an incredible review of Trazodreams by Jack Sundrud (Poco):

"At first, I thought I was listening to a collection of well crafted pop songs - which I was. But then, I started to get an inkling that perhaps Wolf was actually saying something. Then I began to focus on the lyrics. Unlike most pop music these days, when you scratch the surface of these songs - you'll find something other than more surface.

On the opening track, "Everyone's A Rock Star," we see a slice of the American-Idol-X-Factor-The-Voice-America's-Got-Talent generation that puts us all just an audition away from riches and happiness ("at the Stop-and-Rob, Ahkbar talks about his band"). Cut two, "Trust Fund Baby" is the other side of that same shiny coin-in-the-sky. Over a catchy pop background, Wolf sings, "I hate my job on the assembly line / wish I'd been born a trust fund baby". It's a wry take on the everyman anthem. The days of the 'poor but honest' hard worker breaking his back to support his family are no longer seen as a worthy pursuit. All or nothing are the only choices. It's like Springsteen in Bizarro World.

Another emotional well that is deftly tapped on this collection is sweet love songs. "Moments Like These" (“when money's worth less than sweet memories / moments like these will make a wealthy man of me..”) and "What Were The Odds" ("gypsy … sees our love spanning all space and time"). Both with uplifting melodies and earnest lyrics. I believe these songs when Wolf sings them. The message rings true.

The stand-out track, to me is "Tricks I Play On Myself". Over a Beatl-ish Sgt. Pepper era background, comes a sweetly-sad look at the disconnect we sometimes feel between our reality and how we wish things would be ("hope's a cruel witch / Queen of bait and switch"). Redemption comes when the singer drops all expectations, to find "freedom in reality". It's a beautiful sentiment and a catharsis of discovery, delivered with an almost detached melancholy.

Emotional baggage takes center-stage with the droll "Let's Keep It Superficial" ("history shows I lack the skill for bonding / childhood scars, the psych nurse says that's why"). It's actually a sad story of alienation and emotional abuse, but delivered with a top-hat-and-cane flourish ("can't we be a pair of life-size cardboard cutouts"), that had me tapping my toe and smiling the whole way through.

On "Thin Skin", Wolf mines the age-old father-son relationship - and comes up with a shocker. After a childhood of physical abuse, the boy in this story "earns his masters and builds a life in the burbs".. But eventually, he can no longer ignore his past. The music turns dark and with it, years of turmoil erupt from the emotional depths ("from his knees the old man wept for reprieve.."). This is not your mother's pop music.

"When Music Was Magic" reminds us of the bone-deep ties between events in our lives and the music that helped define them. ("the mojo in those rhymes sends my heart traveling back in time..")

Modern country music ("songs about sexy tractors") is skewered in "Dumb It Down". A dream brings "Waylon & Harlan & Johnny himself" together to bemoan the current state of the genre ("the road to writing hit songs turned since we left town..") One wonders if Waylon and the boys could even find a gig these days..

Wolf tackles serious and heady subject matter with heart, irony introspection and candor. He sings in a clear, conversational voice to convey his deceptively layered lyrics. Sometimes, he clips his words in a unique way and I have to admit that I swear I hear a 'wink' in his voice, even when he's being completely sincere.

The musical tracks on Trazodreams are a sturdy setting for these gems. Though Wolf has taken a mostly no-frills musical approach to these songs, the backing music adds just the right punch of humor or pathos - at just the right moment.

Like a more gut-honest Randy Newman or a less snarky Warren Zevon, Wolf populates these songs with his innermost demons. We're witness to a physically and emotionally painful childhood and to long battles fought to find a place of spiritual and philosophical comfort . On Trazodreams, James David Wolf invites us into some very dark and private places. I highly recommend taking the journey."

New Video for "Obliviously Yours"

2011-06-20T08:15:00.000-07:00

Check out the new video for "Obliviously Yours" created by MATM Creative. You can download the song by "Liking" James David Wolf on Facebook.

James David Wolf Pens a Classic for New Baseball Album

2011-04-04T06:28:00.000-07:00

James David Wolf's song "I'm Gonna Hit It" was featured in a review by baseball blog Baseball Musings. Here's the quote:

"The song I liked the best painted a picture of what it’s like for a batter to get the perfect pitch (“I’m Gonna Hit It”). It describes how the batter sees the ball, how he imagines it will sail out of the park, how the outfielder will be crushed that his leap will fall short. If you’ve ever seen a batter’s eyes light up when he got his pitch, you’ll get this song."

To check out this song and the rest of the album, visit greatestgamemusic.bandcamp.com

From where I sat...

2010-08-02T06:43:00.000-07:00

Perhaps I am overstating it, but from where I sat, the "James David Wolf CD Release Event" was fun for all. And I had the best seat in the house. My chair was at the end of the stage. Seated next to me was Josh on bass, then Tonya doing assistant and lead vocals, next was Scott on the D35 and young Jim on snare and hi-hat. I couldn't be happier with the way the musicians performed. Each offered a great deal to the songs in the set. I think I was most impressed with Tonya's lead vocal when she sang "Maybe Your Love Will Fall My Way." Scott's solo on the same song was really sweet, too. The background performance of the night goes to Josh for his performance on "Special." The hounds were unleashed. I wish the world could have heard it. Jim's brushes on the snare kept the machine working together. Thanks to all. I owe my performance to BettyJo's checklist. Always managing. Always.

It was good to see so many familiar faces and a bunch of new ones, too. Music row dignitaries, restaurant owners, authors, and many of my favorite waitresses showed up for the show. There were plenty of lawyers in the house, too. Guess you can't know enough of them, can you? I think we escaped without any legal action taken against me ..... so far.

The set was seven songs and a video presentation.

The set list was:
Hiding In Plain Sight
Crime Pays
Dear New Orleans
Special
Maybe Your Love Will Fall My Way
Recovery Road
Let's Keep It Superficial (from the next CD)

Then Lisa (who superbly animated the video) introduced "The Cancer Song" video. The lights were lowered and the screen was raised.

I think everyone got the point of the song. I am always concerned about that one. This audience figured out instantly that the tune is not about cancer at all (so what if I prodded them?). I watched the faces of many who showed curiosity in the first verse, nervousness in the second verse, and then smirking relief as they ended up seeing (from the singer's POV) the masses singing along as the singer is more or less cashing the big check. I think Lisa did a brilliant job! How can anybody hate a stickman? lol
Thanks again, Lisa

If you missed it, I think we will do it again soon. If you were there, thanks so much for coming.

More later,

James David Wolf

Special CD Release Party

2010-07-29T06:44:00.000-07:00

You're invited to the CD release party for James David Wolf's Special tonight (7/29/10) @ Douglas Corner in Nashville, TN. The show starts at 8 PM and there is no cover. The show will also feature solo performances by Josh Preston, Adam Burrows and Nathan Griffin from Stillhouse Hollow.

James David Wolf's Obliviously Yours is #1 on Sprint's Free Download of the Week

2010-06-08T06:50:00.000-07:00

Me and the Machine's incredibly awesome digital distributor - IRIS Distribution - informed them late last night that their newest releases from James David Wolf and Sleeveless Meeks and the Right To Bare Arms were number #50 & #55 respectively on Sprint Mobile's Free Song of the Week on their download store. It appears as though they've crept up to #1 & #2 respectively!!
Grab "Obliviously Yours" from James David Wolf by clicking on the song title!!

James David Wolf joins Me and the Machine Records!

2010-03-07T11:25:00.000-08:00

It's official! I have become part of the Me and the Machine Records family. My first album will be releasing in June. In the meantime, I'll be playing out in preparation for the release party! More news to come soon as things develop.

-JDW