Listen: The Wood Brothers Unveil Ninth Studio Album ‘Puff of Smoke’ with “Witness”
Photo credit: Laura Partain
The Wood Brothers have returned today to announce Puff of Smoke, the ninth studio album from the two-decade roots trio and their first release since 2023’s Heart is the Hero. Arriving on August 1 from their Honey Jar/Thirty Tigers imprint, the latest offering from brothers Chris and Oliver Wood and Jano Rix shows the combo embracing uncertainty to weather strange times.
“We’re not in control and that can be good news,” guitarist, vocalist and songwriter Oliver Wood shared in a statement. “Puff of Smoke speaks to the idea of letting go and taking the ride.”
The trio have previewed their new perspective today with the toe-tapping and blissfully nonchalant lead single “Witness.” Like the best of the band’s 21-year catalog, it’s a layered, homespun and clever Americana refrain that freely pulls influence from country, soul, blues, jazz and more, stirring intricate genre borrowings into their own sweeping sound.
“There’s a lot to unpack musically in this band, and it’s been this evolutionary process over the years and on each subsequent record,” bassist Chris Wood detailed. “Over time, the diversity of things we can do has all become part of our language.”
“This album is a little bit schizophrenic and eclectic,” Oliver emphasized. “It goes in a number of different directions.”
While swaying from wry and cynical to heartfelt and compassionate, The Wood Brothers’ new record is always mindful first, and built with the intention to instill a sense that life is precious in all its chaos and unpredictability. Just like the band’s shape-shifting sound, there could always be another surprise just around the corner.
Puff of Smoke is available to pre-order now. Read on for the album’s full tracklist, and learn more about the Wood Brothers at thewoodbros.com.
The Wood Brothers – Puff of Smoke:
1. Witness
2. Puff of Smoke
3. Pray God Listens
4. Money Song
5. The Trick
6. Is It Up To You
7. Above All Others
8. The Waves
9. Slow Rise (to the middle)
10. You Choose Me
11. Till The End
