Hope Dialect

About Greenwood's debut cd "The Hope Dialect":

"They have a formula for songwriting, or so it seems, that gives all 8 tracks a distinct flavor. Thus, the[y] certainly have a specific Greenwood sound… but what sets them apart from so many bands that have their own specific sound is that they don’t fall prey to putting out a CD with 8 tracks that all sound the same.....Any track on this CD could be a college radio favorite, “Arms of My Father” would fare well on Christian Rock Radio, and “Prom Queen” could easily be on heavy rotation on any alternative rock station. "

"All in all, a solid release for any band… given the release was a self-release on a tight budget and was the bands debut, it is an incredible release. I’d recommend this CD for fans of Jimmy Eat World, Cursive, twothirtyeight, and Camper Van Beethoven. If you are looking for music with heart and raw emotion that maintains musical integrity and production value, this is a great addition to your library." - crapfilter.net - review by Justin Harlan

"The Hope Dialect is a strong, poetic album from a band that deserves recognition. After listening to the album, one is amazed that it is from an unsigned band. Greenwood plays with confidence and skill. Those looking for something different than the average independent rock band will no doubt find satisfaction in Greenwood."

"In a genre that pumps out bands by the second, Greenwood is a breath of fresh air. The band has been compared to Jimmy Eat World, and it is sometimes reminiscent of early Jars of Clay. However, Greenwood has a sound that is all its own. The vocals are raspy while still being clear, giving the songs an unpretentious and authentic feel."

"...The Hope Dialect explores the connection between God and man. However, unlike many Christian albums, the lyrics are not cliché. It is obvious that the members of Greenwood think deeply about their faith." - jesusfreakhideout.com - review by Laura Nunnery

Christian-centric ideals may permeate the lyrics, but don’t cast this off as another “Christian” band. Greenwood manages to wrestle with their devout religious views and express them without leaving the rest of us behind. And that I admire, especially as a person who often gets quite disgruntled when having religion thrown in my face. But what’s even more important to this band is their knack for writing crafty songs and laying down a structure that makes the added violin (don’t you dare utter “Yellowcard”) sound as much of a part of the band as it does in a full tilt orchestra. Greenwood songs are staggering in depth and while brevity might not be their sonic forte, the vocals don’t stretch out too far as they nicely settle into a mid-range well suited for vocalist Art Wong. He’s backed up by two other members of the quintet, which promises to give it an added feel. Not often do I come across a melodic emotional indie pop-rock outfit that sounds this mature, so when I see that they’re unsigned I have to gasp in dismay at our local Baltimore music scene—why oh why hasn’t someone picked them up yet? They sound a hell of lot better than most of Tooth & Nail’s roster and would [fit] nicely on an indie or major [label] somewhere out there. - Smother Magazine - www.smother.net

Rarely is there an album that is so aggressive in its nature yet such a pleasant listen. This is the certainly the feel of _The Hope Dialect_ by Maryland rock act Greenwood. This eight song release hits you over the head like a ton of bricks yet seemingly doesn’t leave you in disrepair. There is much redemption to be had and Greenwood successfully presents that to the listener. Songs like “Save Me” and “Burn” speak of the redeeming love of God where “Prom Queen” urges listeners to lead an authentic life. Musically, it’s quite hard to nail down any certain influence but there’s a lot going on here. Frontman Art Wong brings a strong vocal performance to compliment the aggressive low end of Jesse Florida and Tyler Malone and the crisp guitars of Noel Clark. Quite unique to Greenwood’s sound is the inclusion of Allan Wong’s violin talent. This definitely adds a different spin on this aggressive set of songs, giving the album some very haunting melodies. The songs on _The Hope Dialect_ are road tested so it’s great to hear them refined in their recorded state. Look for this breakthrough performance to spring the band on to greater things as they hit the road to play for the masses.

Zach Delph - 1/23/06 - The Phantom Tollbooth - www.tollbooth.org

"Some bands are content to craft lyrics first and worry about music second, but this band strongly showcases both, proving that you can have a hard-hitting Christian band that really rocks the house... The emotion shines through in the lyrics, and the music adds a power behind it that gives this band true momentum. The big comparison is to Jimmy Eat World, but I think there is a bit more range in Greenwood and a lot more depth. Sometimes you can tell when a band sings what it believes instead of just seeking fame and fortune, athough with these guys, I wouldn't rule out the possiblity that they will rise to the top." - Indie-Music.com - by Catherine Tully

"Greenwood rocks my face off! That's what I overheard one of my students say during a greenwood show at Union University. Greenwood band members put everything into their show...They are decidedly Christian, but aren't the typical band you'll see gracing the cover of CCM. They are on the edge, dangerous, and a little bit deranged...I have booked many acts while Director of Student Programs at Union University and am always impressed by Greenwood. Always. The guys are down to earth and very easy to work with...Trust me, you will never walk away disappointed at a greenwood show."
- Mark VanderHaar

"'You guys rock', said NMJC Upward Bound academic coordinator April Edwards. 'I love their sound. They have awesome lyrics. They're very far reaching. They're very original. The violin makes them stand alone.'

...The band members grew up around music but Art and Allan were exposed mainly to classical music. The pair knows it takes alot of work to learn the composers and instruments to produce classical music.

'We are trying to make the music we [create] more accessible to people,' Art said. 'The average casual listener is looking for an emotional response in music.'

About two years ago, what once was a hobby suddenly became a desire to play professionally, according to Art.

'There's a spiritual reason,' Florida said. 'For one reason or another, we all feel we should do this.'

'At the end of our college career, we had no other ambition than to play music,' Allan said. We jammed together because we like to make music. Now it's more serious. Music is so important to us. It's the most powerful and emotional experience.'" - Hobbs, New Mexico