Sherwood + Reece March 15, 2010

For any band that's paved its own path to success out of sheer determination and a DYI work ethic, the journey is not without leftover scars. For San Luis Obispo, Calif.'s Sherwood, those scars come oddly enough in the form of mall security cops. "We've been kicked out of probably 40 malls," vocalist and bassist Nate Henry says of the group's early days back in 2004 when it peddled its musical wares in front of department stores and food courts. "I still have fear reflexes around mall security guards; I can't see one without feeling slightly uneasy."

Fortunately for Henry and bandmates Michael Leibovich (keys), Dan Koch (guitar/vocals), David Provenzano (guitar/vocals) and Joe Greenetz (drums), those days are far behind, as Sherwood readies to step out full stride on Oct. 13 with its third album Qu.

Much how bands like Jimmy Eat World and Death Cab for Cutie made their mark on the pop-rock world with breakthrough efforts Bleed American and Transatlanticism, Sherwood positions itself to accomplish the same with the excellent Qu, an album that showcases the true depth of the band's songwriting skills along with its uncanny ability to win you over with the simplest of Beach Boys-inspired pop hooks.

Formed in 2002 while attending Cal Poly State University, Sherwood first built a steady following around a self-released EP and self-booked tours in 2004. Eventually, the band's dogged work ethic landed it a slot on that year's Vans Warped Tour and caught the attention of SideCho Records, who released Sherwood's first full-length, Sing, But Keep Going, in 2005.

Amid all that activity and more non-stop touring, Sherwood had grabbed the ear of Tom Anderson himself, of MySpace fame, and soon the group was among the first to sign with MySpace Records for the release of Sherwood's second full-length, A Different Light, in 2007. The album racked up sales of more than 50,000 and reached No. 12 on Billboard's Heatseekers chart and No. 38 on the Independent chart.

To boot, Sherwood's MySpace page has logged an astounding 18 million plays, making it the third largest MySpace profile in the world, and the video preview for "Song in My Head" alone notched more than 700,000 views on YouTube and MySpace in less than one week. Helping build on that momentum, the band once again hit the road throughout 2007 and early 2008, playing a successful run of shows alongside the likes of Relient K, Motion City Soundtrack and The Academy Is.

Not one to rest on their laurels, all band mates were ready to step it up for the new release, devoting themselves full-time to working on their music in a rented apartment in Oakland, Calif., from July 2008 to March 2009. "It was the first time we experienced what a professional bands' work ethic is supposed to look like," Leibovich says. "In the past, we wrote during breaks in between tours or promotional work, but this time we devoted 7+ hours a day strictly to creating music. We felt like we were testing our limits and abilities."

The result was a massive creative output of more than 85 songs, which were eventually whittled down to 12 that made the final cut. In the studio, Sherwood enlisted the magic touch of producer Brad Wood, whose past work with such acclaimed acts as Liz Phair, Smashing Pumpkins and Sunny Day Real Estate proved a valuable asset when combined with Sherwood's knack for crafting unabashed power pop. "Based on his past history, we were excited to work with him to get a fresh angle on pop/rock, and he was excited to try his hand at a catchy, concise pop album," Koch says of working together.

From the first taste of the gorgeous five-part harmonies of opening track "Shelter," it's clear Sherwood has something special to offer. Though the group's undeniable pop sensibilities have always distinguished it from its alternative and pop-punk peers, Qu expands on that element, highlighting specific moments - be it the shining hook of a chorus, or lyrically, taking you to a particular place in time - and, ultimately, delivering the overall feeling of a band fully realizing its potential.

Pop gems like the instantly catchy chorus of "Hit the Bottom" and the playful melody driving the Rooney-meets-Jimmy Eat World "Not Gonna Love" offer a year-round splash of sunshine, as does the feel-good "Make it Through," which bounces along with a simple, lilting "Whoa oh oh" chorus, guaranteed to lift spirits of anyone within earshot.

But don't let Sherwood's bright melodies deceive you - dig deep and there's quite a bit of dark, thought-provoking subject matter to be found. "We really tried to go for a variety of storytelling and not just rely on our own personal experience," Leibovich explains. "We wanted to get away from an album about love songs and branch out more than we had in the past."

And that they did. See "No Better," a somber story about a child experiencing a parents' divorce, or "Ground Beneath My Feet," a piano-led tale of a soldier off at war, which builds into a militaristic beat and swarms with guitar fuzz until you can almost feel yourself among the turmoil.

Each song tells its own fascinating story, and Sherwood is here to share it with you. Gone are the days of out-running mall security guards, and today finds the band ready to step out with something both artistically viable and instantly likeable. It's time to listen and sing along.

http://www.myspace.com/blackgold
http://www.sherwoodmusic.net/
http://www.myspace.com/sherwood

Official Website: http://www.jamminjava.com/