Dermot Kennedy's latest album, The Weight of the Woods, is a curious venture into the realm of nature-inspired songwriting. While the concept is intriguing, the execution leaves much to be desired, with the album struggling to find its footing between formulaic ballads and experimental forays. The artist's love for trees, as evidenced by the album's title and cover art, sets an interesting tone, but the overall listening experience is somewhat underwhelming.
One of the main issues with The Weight of the Woods is the repetition of Kennedy's signature sound. His husky, grainy voice and talent for melody have been poured into rigid power ballads that come off as a less playful version of Ed Sheeran. This formulaic approach is evident from the title track, which unspools like a David Attenborough documentary, to the listlessly solemn 'Refuge and Funeral', which suggests an artist motivated by the desire to make new hits that sound like the old ones. The album's initial stretches are particularly flawed, as Kennedy struggles to balance his audience's expectations with his desire for experimentation.
The album's strength lies in its second half, where Kennedy's voice takes a backseat to more dynamic arrangements. The piano ballad 'Endless' is a satisfying moment of understatement, and the song 'Turnstile' attempts to sound like a mid-tempo Jeff Buckley, albeit with mixed results. These moments hint at the missed opportunity that much of the album represents, as Kennedy could have gone further in exploring an indie rock sound with a pep in its step.
Despite its flaws, The Weight of the Woods is not a complete dud. It has received support from the Irish music industry, with Kennedy being championed loudly and proudly, whereas more innovative artists have had to look abroad for airplay. This speaks to the lack of imagination of the corporate Irish music business and its love of a sure thing, especially when that sure thing is a guy with a guitar.
In conclusion, The Weight of the Woods is an album that struggles to find its balance between formulaic ballads and experimental forays. While it has its moments of satisfaction, the overall listening experience is somewhat underwhelming. It is a curious venture into the realm of nature-inspired songwriting, but one that ultimately falls short of its potential.
