Self-ish (2015 Mix) (Indie Exclusive Colored Vinyl)

Will Wood and the Tapeworms quickly grabbed attention in the punk scene following “Everything is a Lot.” This was due to Wood’s unique writing and refusal to break character, even backstage. The band’s dangerously high-energy shows also contributed. Face paint, confetti, and on-stage violence became the project’s calling card. Consequently, SELF-iSH’s dark and intense drama was an inevitable direction for Wood.

Mere months after the debut, producer Kevin Antreassian offered Wood a deal on his follow-up. However, he only had a narrow time window, so Wood improvised. Bringing together a new lineup and with the help of guitarist Mike Bottiglieri, Wood wove scraps of discarded or unfinished songs together.

He created a tight yet abstract psychedelic concept album. He intended to take every risk and try every off-kilter idea he had.

SELF-iSH began its highly conceptual production process during the holiday season in 2015. The studio became littered with notepads, graphic charts, and teeth. The result was a manic little album featuring screaming, theremin, kazoo, power drills, the sound of breaking furniture, and an almost heavy-metal twist on Wood’s off-kilter vision.

By the time the album was finished, the piano was bloody, and the studio was wrecked. The album became, as Wood described, the “bastard child” of his discography. Will Wood’s early career can be primarily defined by his experimental vocal delivery, honky-tonk piano smashing, and darkly edgy songwriting.

While his stylings have matured and adopted a more precise approach, his refusal to conform to expectations remains. His constant shifts in genre have stayed hallmarks of his songwriting and production.

In his “Will Wood and the Tapeworms” releases (Everything Is A Lot in 2015, SELF-iSH in 2016), audiences can see the first glimpses of his signature style. It was presented in a uniquely raw, chaotic state of potential.