Press

Follow this link to read the entire September 14, 2005 review of "Salt" from Jazz Review.com.

Follow this link to read the August 5, 2005 article from The Mercury.

Follow this link to read the interview from the Newport Daily News after WR's performance at the 2005 Newport Folk Festival.

“Audience favorite...” - Newport Daily News

“Randy Newman meets Tom Waits. Woody Russell is a true Americana performer in much the same vein as Woody Guthrie or Bruce Springsteen but Russell’s songs have more of a show tune feel to them. I would go as far as to say Mr. Russell could go toe to toe with Newman if it came right down to it. Fourteen songs and not one single one is filler. Oh, and did I mention he’s a hell of a guitar player too. I love his rhythm guitar work. It has a real percussive feel that will have your head bobbin’ up and down like one of those little dogs that people have in their back windshield. This is a really fun album from top to bottom. It’s easy to understand why his Russell’s fanbase is rapidly growing after giving this captivating Texas troubadour a listen.” - J.R. Oliver, EarCandyMag.com review of "Salt"

“A little taste of Americana, Salt is a poetic string of love and loss. Rooted in Russell's unique, sometimes growling, often soft voice, each track unveils a different sound from the carnival-esque "In the Middle of the Fringe" to the faded blues of "DB Blues". Russell's guitar is sharp, but comfortable with the percussive grooves of Spanish-styled melodies. Warm at its core, the album orbits around the sincerity of the title track which magically accomplishes otherwise campy lines like "She's the roots to my tree/the salt in my sea" with heartfelt honesty. With an ear for craftsmanship, this album successfully captures the roots-folk sound often lost in production.” - Dan Cummings, Hyperactive Magazine review of "Salt"

“In Russell you'll find a rare musician with the versatility to wail in a true falsetto and then burst forth with a resonating purr that makes you want to hang your head and shuffle your feet in the dust as you walk alone down a long, gritty dirt road to nowhere. Russell writes his own songs, sings, plays the guitar among other instruments and even produces; the sound you hear is pure Woody, and that's a really good thing.” - Lisa Utman Randall, Mercury

“...a cross section of sounds and flavors throughout this delightful disc (Salt). Russell has a down to earth emotive vocal style that is sincere and warm. He is first and foremost a storyteller, and a very talented one that happens to sing, play guitar, banjo, and handle some percussion and loops to round out his musical multi tasking... the bottom line is this music works on you and gets you emotional.” - Keith "Muzikman" Hannaleck, Blues Matters review of "Salt"

“Russell is eclectic yet accessible, and his music leans more toward the rootsy side of Americana than the twangy side. Vocally he sits somewhere between James Taylor and Tom Waits, smooth but with a well-placed growl when necessary. Exploring social consciousness and philosophy as well as hopeless romanticism, Russell’s songs are interesting and catchy at the same time ala Elvis Costello. His guitar playing is solid as well, putting him a notch above other troubadours. The quirky and offbeat “Parts and Labor” is smile-inducing but the best track by far on this collection is the breezy We May Never Know.” - Mike Farley, Bullz-Eye.com review of "Salt"

“Uh oh. Warning: an artist from Austin, Texas. Translation: prepare yourself for some very fine music. Russell composes rustbelt blues rock with Americana on the back porch looking for the lemonade. His voice is never stagnant and is sincere with the possibilities of tender lyrics one would read from a personal diary. I love the production on this album. It never tries too hard to sound brilliant and that’s where the genius is—it allows the album’s tunes room to breathe and to become an emotional standby for any music listener that happens by.” - J. Sin, Smother.net review of "Salt"

“Very tasteful music making.” - John Aielli, host of "Eklektikos" on KUT 90.5 FM, Austin

“Woody Russell's voice is the first thing you notice about Salt. His smooth, emotional tone adds substance to his songs and makes them stick with you. The second thing you notice is the playing. The music is tight, with no wasted notes. This is only his third record, but Salt has the sound of a musician who has invested a lifetime in sharpening his playing. The songs themselves are thoughtful, with a pretty sharp sense of humor. Russell is establishing a reputation as a singer/songwriter to watch, and Salt is a proof point in support of his blossoming career.” - Lance Looper, High-Bias review of "Salt"

“He's got some powerful, gut-emanating pipes, full of soul and deeply-felt conviction. His eclectic six-string was like something out of the Rock 'n' Roll Hall Of Fame. He immediately drew attention with his intricate finger work. The packed crowd was roaring in the tiny venue… awesome lyrics about farms, liquor, women and solitude… eclectic and unique and worth more than the price of admission.” - Chart Magazine (ChartAttack.com) review of NXNE performance

“Austin based singer-songwriter, Woody Russell, displays a different artistic style in [the] Americana genre with influences of Pop, Folk and Alternative Country. His husky, captivating voice is a unique blend of Elton John meets Tom Waits and Richard Julian. His songwriting skills shine in Envy with great music production. Artists seeking different music and artistry and acoustic music should definitely seek out his music, as Woody has a lot of ideas to offer. With Woody already [having] performed at the prestigious Newport Folk Festival last year, he is a true talent to watch out for.” - Editor, International Acoustic Music Awards (inacoustic.com) review of "Salt"

“... skillful at melding modern and vintage seasons into well-produced songs. Russell is supported by a talented band playing lap steel, upright bass and additional vocals. Salt is an eclectic mix of styles and all fourteen tracks are filled with rich imagery. 'Count On Me' is the strong opening track with standout jazzy instrumentation with each discernible as Woody warmly sings his visual lyrics. In comparison, the second song 'Parts and Labor' is witty and has an up-tempo, country flavor. 'Leaving' is slow and sweet with reflective lyrics and stellar, steel leads. Salt is a diverse, bold collection and a good complement to any music collection!” - Laura Turner Lynch, Kweevak.com review of "Salt"

“Vocal growls and pounding rhythms pierce the whole project like an indelible mark of hard-living at its best. Even when the moment turns slightly mellower, the music doesn’t display any sign of overt vulnerability. Instead it opts for a message of reinforced pessimism. A welcome viewpoint to the complexity of life and our willingness to accept it on our own terms.” - Editor, Independent Songwriter Web-Magazine review of "Time To Go"

“Combining a traditional Celtic sound with the intense, East Coast Americana of Bruce Springsteen, singer/songwriter Woody Russell's percussive guitar work and husky voice have made him one of the premiere roots rockers in the underground.” - Bradley Torreano, All Music Guide review of "Time To Go"

“Woody's got a great repertoire and you can hear the Cockburn influence in there…on a long road trip yesterday I listened… for 200 miles straight! LOVED it!” - Suzanne Myers, Editor – The (Bruce) Cockburn Project review of "Time to Go"

“Lyrics that paint a picture, mixed with skillful musicianship, it's far from Russell's time to go, it's now time for him to arrive. From the opening exclamation to the smooth 'Last Thing I Expected', Woody captivates the listener.” - Tim Waldal, Platter Chatter review of "Time To Go"

"The only performer to stand up, use an acoustic amp miked instead of direct box (like 007 shaken, not stirred) and a resonator guitar with a slight digital delay tremeloux like effect. His finger style accompaniment include a cornucopia of Django gypsy, classical to banjo like arpeggios, reggae, blues shuffle and steel like slides that support vocal styles as intimate as whispers to falsetto screams, whoop ass grit, T-Bone blues and Island Jamaican. Woody also uses his heel for percussion on the stage much like Austin's electric piano guru, 60's vintage, Blind George." - Polk Shelton, Austin Songwriters Group

"This guy deserves to be heard!" - Belgium Radio ATL

“Superb performer… we’ll see him on a larger stage next year.” - NW Folklife Festival

“A dark cinematic feel, punctuated with tasty guitar. A nice mixture of ‘ethereal Americana’ and humor. A highly recommended local artist.” - Victory Review of "...as simple as that"

“An outstanding debut (…as simple as that) filled with compelling songs about the dark side of life.” - Platter Chatter review of "...as simple as that"

“Of the 600 C.D. projects I’ve mastered in the past couple of years, Russell’s ‘…as simple as that’ is in the top five. I use his work to demo my studio to other clients. It blows me away every time.” - Ross Nyberg, DiscMasters