“Every day is a puff of smoke
A little cloud of heartbreak and hope
Maybe it’s God’s little practical joke
And if you’re lucky he stops by
And you take a little ride”

If you’re searching for insights into the state of the human condition in 2025, look no further than Puff of Smoke (Honey Jar/Thirty Tigers), the highly-anticipated ninth album of original music from Grammy-nominated progressive Americana trio The Wood Brothers.

Less a literal soundtrack to uncertain times or a roadmap showing how to live through them, Puff of Smoke posits a happily contrarian outlook: Life can turn on a dime, and all we truly have is the moment at hand. And that’s perfectly fine. “We're not in control,” says guitarist, vocalist and songwriter Oliver Wood, “and that can be good news.”

Between the poetic observations of Oliver and his brother, bassist and vocalist Chris Wood — with percussionist and multi-instrumentalist Jano Rix completing the trio — Puff of Smoke is an 11-song collection brimming with joy in the face of challenges, delivering lyrical wisdom with the winking subtlety of John Prine and the musical hive mind of a seasoned group with two decades of shared experiences.

Fans who have hopped aboard at waypoints along the journey that began with their now classic 2006 debut Ways Not to Lose already know to expect a new drop from The Wood Brothers will bring inventive songwriting, a grounded lyrical wit, and an adventurous sweep of sonic avenues. Unpredictability is part of the listening experience.

“This album is a little bit schizophrenic and eclectic, and it goes in a few different directions,” says Oliver.

“There's a lot to unpack musically in this band, and it's been this evolutionary process over the years and on each record,” Chris continues. “Over time, the diversity of things we can do has all become part of our language.”