Jeremy Earl is one busy guy. Not only is he the leader of Woods, but he also runs the associated labels Woodsist and Fuck it Tapes. You may have noticed that these labels have an instantly identifiable aesthetic, and that is due in large part to Earl’s artwork, which graces many a cassette and LP release. From the distinctive ink-drawn Woodsist logo to the elaborate collage work on the cover of Robedoor’s Endlessly Blazing, Earl’s artistic output is as identifiable as his lovely falsetto. It is therefore a cause for celebration that his art work is now available in a condensed and portable form — inside his new book Skull, that is, the first non-musical release on Los Angeles’ esteemed Not Not Fun label.
Skull is a glossy, 40-page, professionally bound catalog containing a selection of Earl’s work from 2006 – 2007. There are no titles, but fans will recognize alternate versions of drawings that have appeared on releases by Blues Control, Family Underground, Shepherds, Axolotl, Menguar, Pocahaunted, and Nonhorse, among others–all of which are associated with Woodsist, Fuck It Tapes or Not Not Fun. The artist’s choice of title is somewhat arbitrary, as the skull is just one of a number of visual motifs that Earl deploys frequently in his work. Other favorite themes include eyes, pyramids, and reptiles.
At the end of the day, Earl’s art reminds me of the kind of free-form doodles one might make while daydreaming in a boring high school science class–taken to the extremes of abstraction, of course. Skull is a nice snapshot of this work, but it leaves me wanting more. The first few pages feature rough sketches of some of the pieces he would go on to develop in his album artwork. And these, I think, are the collection’s most compelling artifacts, because they give greater insight into Earl’s working methods. Diehard fanatics of the underground releases he has graced with his felt-tipped pen probably own many of these cassettes and LPs already, and it’s hard to imagine a casual fan throwing down $15 for this wordless and seemingly arbitrary selection. Skull is rewarding as a quick browse, but it remains a curiosity for all but the most dedicated fans of Earl’s output.
Words: Max Burke
Tags: Axolotl, Blues Control, Fuck It Tapes, Jeremy Earl, Menguar, Nonhorse, not not fun, Pocahaunted, Robedoor, Shepards, Skull, Woods, Woodsist
[...] occasionally dabble in noise and extended jamming, but are usually a showcase for the song craft of Jeremy Earl and Jarvis Taveniere. Live, however, Woods’ sound can be more unpredictable, as the group [...]