Coming out of trying times, something new from the Wood Brothers might just be what we need. ‘Heart Is The Hero’ is an extra-rootsy effort that satisfies the soul.

Traffic’s albums are presented in their original packaging and sport the iconic pink U.K. Island Records label. Unfortunately, they forgot a key element.

The Wood Brothers always opt for timeless themes and methods, and never more so than on ‘Kingdom In My Mind.’ This record satisfies the soul today and will satisfy the soul just as well many years from now.

It’s tempting to call this a tilt toward Ben Harper territory. But ‘Are You Open?’ might be the most “Seth Walker” record Seth Walker has ever made.

With emotional directness, wit, and uncanny musicianship found on ‘One Drop of Truth,’ pure Wood Brothers translates into pure roots rock joy.

Right at the time southeastern Texas was beset by a major hurricane in late summer of 2017, the Wood Brothers recorded a song that perfectly captures that catastrophic time in their signature folksy manner.

This new box set underscores the fact that Chris Wood could’ve done anything he wanted after Traffic split up in 1974.

On ‘Live At The Barn,’ The Wood Brothers brought Little Feat attitude with Taj Mahal worldliness and soul to Levon Helm’s Midnight Ramble Woodstock barn last summer.

Steve Elliott caught up with Dan Ropek, author of ‘Tragic Magic: The Life of Traffic’s Chris Wood,’ to discuss this often-overlooked figure in rock.

Who would’ve thought, at this late date, that we’d ever see a book focused on Chris Wood, the spirit of Traffic?