i couldn't have said it better...

this is a blog entry by nate henry (lead vocalist and bass guitarist) from sherwood on their myspace. it is just a great post about the state of music nowadays.

Friends,

I have been watching a lot of documentaries about great rock and roll legends while making this new record. Something about really knowing what's come before us gives this recording process a lot more meaning for me, and just that I am able to have spent a year of my life making a record should have been enough but such is the human tendency of forgetting the blessings. Today it was a film about Bob Dylan, last week it was Tom Petty, the week before that Kurt Cobain and they all have something in common.

What sort of hit me while watching these films is that the artists told their stories with a sense of honesty that seems to be missing nowadays. I would say that collectively as a generation we know a lot of "music" but we know very few "artists". Times have changed and I don't want to rant about all that but I do feel it's noteworthy.

As a band we have spent a year writing songs, words and ideas. Hashing through all of this stuff and then going back through them with a fine toothed comb looking for every bad lyric and or melody has been a huge task. We spent hours analyzing themes and trying to make sense of everything we want to say. I personally want every song on the record to mean something and come from a place that hits home. I don't know if there is a formula for success that every record label spends years trying to figure out but I do know that good honest records go a long way. Dylan, when talking about Woody Guthrie's songs, says that he "taught someone how to live". I thought that was an amazing statement, an idea I will never forget.

It was interesting to listen to thoughts of the fans when Bob Dylan started touring with "a live band" in England. They criticized him on camera after the shows and some of his other fans told the nay-sayers to leave if they hated it. I think the listener wanted Dylan to fit into some mold but at least it was good to see people get so into the music even though they were close minded about Dylan's choices etc. It was refreshing to hear such articulate thoughts about what they felt Dylan was trying to say, something I don't see fans of music doing much anymore.

Does music have anything to say anymore? More importantly, has our generation anything to say? Have we even experienced something so moving or tragic like previous generations to warrant an artist that encapsulates our feelings? I am starting to think we don't. I will say that as a band we are at least trying and spending everyday to retell the stories we as members experience and feel daily. We are almost finished with this new record that I feel is honest and very real because its about, heartbreak, apathy, perseverance, love, war, risk, aging, death, divorce and hope.

This might or might not be embraced but we don't care as we put every last honest effort into it. In a world of people who only care about money, material possessions and status, we just really wanted to make something honest to try and counteract some of it. I am really proud of the guys I get to spend everyday with as they are great people, good friends and have taught me a lot about myself. I hope people think on all the things I mentioned above when they listen to this new record. Hopefully you're excited...because I am.

Soon,

Nate

if you haven't checked out sherwood yet, you should definitely do so. they are a great band from california. if i attempt to describe them i doubt it will do them any justice. you can check them out on myspace at http://www.myspace.com/sherwood. they just posted three new songs up there that will be on their new album QU. well i hope you enjoyed that and until next time peace,
-michael