Donovan Woods: Things Were Never Good Green Vinyl LP

Why you'll love it

This indie exclusive green pressing adds two vinyl bonus tracks, "I'm Around" and "How Good." The album was longlisted for the 2025 Polaris Music Prize.

This edition

Indie exclusive
Green vinyl
Limited edition
Two bonus tracks

About the album

Donovan Woods has written hits for other people (Tim McGraw recorded his "Portland, Maine"), but his own records tend to sound like the quiet conversation after everybody else has gone home. The Sarnia, Ontario songwriter, a Juno winner for Both Ways, made this one for End Times Music, the independent label he runs with Michelle Szeto, and it's his most personal set yet: a record about honesty and acceptance, sung close to the microphone.

"Rosemary" opens it, followed by "116 West Main, Durham, NC" and "Trompsingel (Another Life)," and the songs stay small, warm and carefully drawn. Manitoba's William Prince joins him on "I'm Just Trying to Get Home," Madi Diaz sings on "When Our Friends Come Over," and the co-writers include Lori McKenna, Matt Nathanson, Marc Cohn and Amy Wadge. Woods produced it with James Bunton and Connor Seidel, keeping the arrangements spare enough that every line lands.

Woods also ranks the Great Lakes every year for charity, which tells you a fair bit about the man: thoughtful, very Canadian and fully prepared to hold a firm opinion about Lake Erie.

Also at Kops: more Donovan Woods on vinyl · browse CDN Pop / Rock

Tracklist

Side A
1. Rosemary
2. 116 West Main, Durham, NC
3. Trompsingel (Another Life)
4. It's Been Like That For A While
5. Living Well
6. Well Read

Side B
1. Back For The Funeral
2. Don't Talk To Her At Night
3. I'm Just Trying To Get Home
4. When Our Friends Come Over
5. All Raked Flat
6. I'm Around
7. How Good