Royal Wood, Love Will Linger Review
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Wood was born John Royal Wood Nicholson and raised in Lakefield, Ontario. Royal Wood, his performing name and his real middle names, were chosen in memory of his great-grandfather, Royal Rufus Wood, who died in 1962.That contrast of love and loss dominated the entire creative process in making the music for his EP titled Love Will Linger. Wood grew up in a household filled with music; his brother Luke Nicholson is also a singer-songwriter. He began playing piano by ear at the age of four and started lessons at age eight. With the support of his school music program, he had access to a variety of different instruments, and by his teens, he became a multi-instrumentalist well-versed in many different styles, including the guitar, bass guitar, drums, clarinet, and trumpet. After high school, Wood studied business at McGill University.
Positives:
Wood has a warm and embracing voice, one you want to listen to often and his style is honest and relatable.
Bottom Line:
Love Will Linger is a beautifully conceived album, the lush instrumentation and beautiful warmth of Wood’s voice uplift the albums accessibility. The single “Make Up Your Mind,” is a memorable tune, the melody feels like an old friend coming home to rest their weary soul and the affection you feel from seeing them once again. “Shelter,” offers an acoustic guitar driven tune with solid songcraft, Wood is convincing and tender. While “I Was Wrong,” is an energetic pop-rock driven tune with a harmonious texture of backing vocals adding interest to the song. “Photograph,” is the true ballad on the album, stunning and moving and a tribute to a loved one who is gone, and the lingering love felt. The last tune on the EP is “There Will Be Days,” that reminds us of the human struggle and how you can solider on with hope in your heart and love in your soul. That’s the short of it!