Tuesday, March 31, 2009

Nothing Ryhmes With Woman



My favorite band, Carbon Leaf, has just revamped their website and announced to their fans that their next studio album, Nothing Rhymes With Woman, will be released this year! This has had me incredibly excited, as we've known that they've been working for a little while. I've listened to the album a number of times already, and have loved every minute of it - my review will be coming in the next couple of months.

This is the first new album with a bit of a new lineup. In the past year, the band has lost two of it's longtime members, Scott Milstead and Jordan Medas. For this album, Barry, Terry and Carter have been joined by newcomers Jason Neal and Jon Markel. Judging from the work on this album, they've jumped right in, and sound very good.

The expected tracklisting is as follows:

Track listing

  1. "Indecision"
  2. "Another Man's Woman"
  3. "Miss Hollywood" (First Single)
  4. "Cinnamindy"
  5. "Lake of Silver Bells"
  6. "What Have You Learned?"
  7. "Mexico"
  8. "X-Ray"
  9. "Drops of Rain"
  10. "Meltdown"
  11. "Pink"
  12. "Snowfall Music "
  13. "Seed"
(This could very well change)

The album is expected to drop on May 19th, with a short tour. (Listed under the Look link below), and I already look forward to writing up a review. This'll be a great album for this year, for sure.

Here's two tracks from the album from one of their concerts in 2008:

Indecision (Live) - Carbon Leaf

Friday, March 27, 2009

Warm Weather Drive



So, it's getting warmer, and as such, it's high time to get back to some fun drives. Here's some of what I've been listening to on the occassions that I've been out and about on the road thus far. These songs in paticular are forever associated with the coming warmer weather.

Clocks - Coldplay
Flyin' - Adam Ezra Group
Kids - Goodtimes Goodtimes
The Long Goodbye - A Girl Called Eddy
My Maria - B.W. Stevenson
Queen Bitch - David Bowie
Stay (Wasting Time) - Dave Matthew's Band
This Is My Song - Carbon Leaf
Time Is A Runaway - The Alternate Routes
Waiting - Josh Clayton-Felt

Tuesday, March 24, 2009

Bryan Dondero to Depart the Nocturnals



According to Vermont's largest daily newspaper, Bassist Bryan Dondero is departing from the popular VT band, Grace Potter and the Nocturnals, raising some issues that he had with the band and their creative direction. The recent move has forced the band to cancel several shows (Revolution Hall in Troy, NY on March 25th; The 8x10 in Baltimore, MD on March 26th; and Mr. Small's in Millvale, PA on March 27th) that were coming at the end of the month, although there is no word as to whether the band will continue at Bonnaroo.

The article cited Dondero's displeasure with the band's move to a major record label in 2007 for their fantastic album This Is Somewhere, which marked a noted change from funk-soul in the band's style to something more along the likes of classic rock. In the article, he stated: "I was always a little skeptical, they’re owned by Disney." He then goes on to note that he and Potter disagreed on several points, and that he felt that he was going to be asked to leave the band.

This is a bit surprising, at least to me. I've been a huge fan of the Nocturnals since I started listening to them several years ago, and being from the same place, and indeed, attending the same high school as Grace, it's been absolutely fantastic to see the band grab so much attention as they have in the past couple of years. The group has largely been seen to have been a great creative force, and it's unclear as to how this will affect the band, especially as they are working on their next major record label album.

This also brings up the argument about indie vs. major label records. Obviously, there is far more creative control when it comes to an independant record, as the band found with their first two albums, which gained them quite a bit of notice around the state, and only with the major record, were they able to gain even more attention on a nation-wide level, especialy with appearances on Jay Leno, Grey's Anatomy and One Tree Hill.

That being said, Potter's latest single, I Want Something I Want is a huge departure from her normal style, and even I've been a little disapointed with the stylistic change here - it's an incredibly shallow and pop-ish song, far below what we've come to expect from her. It's not a bad song alone, but within the context of what we've heard before, it doesn't come close. However, the Nocturnals are on the rise, and it should come to no surprise that they will have to sacrifice some style and independance for the attention. While it's not a good situation, they can do far more later on, as well as with their live shows, which are incredibly energetic and exciting to watch.

I really hope that the Nocturnals will find another bassist in the near future, so that they can continue to play around the area, as well as complete their new album, but I hope that they won't forget their Vermont roots and where they came from, because that would be an enormous amount of talent that would be squandered with the regular, consumer level music. The Nocturnals are much better than that. I also hope that this doesn't spell any more problems for the band, because I'll be very, very sad if they break apart.

Ain't No Time - Grace Potter & The Nocturnals

Friday, March 20, 2009

So Say We All



Tonight, the final episode of one of the best Science Fiction television shows, Battlestar Galactica, to have ever graced out TV screens will be ending after a stunning five year run. This has been a fantastic show, and while I'm upset to see it go, I'm happy at the way it's going out. I can't wait to see it tonight.

So say we all.

All Along the Watchtower - Bear McCreary

Long Time Coming, The Snow Is Gone


Welcome to spring! Today is the first day, and it is a paticularly welcome day here in Vermont after another long winter. The snow is going, the temperatures are going up (for the most part) and the birds are returning.

Snow Is Gone - Josh Ritter


Wednesday, March 18, 2009

Album Review: A Sucker's Dream



The Alternate Route's sophomore album kicks off the deck as a strong album, one that amply follows up their first release, 2007's Good and Wreckless and True, which I really enjoyed. The group has been around for a couple of years, and broke into the music scene with an energetic and solid rock sound that, while not totally, completely orginal, was resfreshing and easy to get into. This second album, titled A Sucker's Dream, represents not so much a depatrure from the sound of their first album, but more a refinement throughout, from the lyrics to the overall sound.

I first saw the Alternate Routes during the summer of 2007, and again later that fall with Paulo Nutini, and came away from both shows impressed with their sound and energy. They were able to really build up the energy with a great set of songs - which included some new songs that ended up on this album, such as The Future Is Nothing New and Desdamona.

Where Good and Ordinary and True stumbled - it was a bit scattered with a number of good, but disjointed songs - A Sucker's Dream picks up. This album is far better structured, largely around a couple dedicated themes of love, and regaining love. The album has a questioning feel to it, as if the singer is working desperately to figure things out as life speeds past. It's something that I find highly relatable over the past year.

The album is filled with a ton of absolutely golden lyrics, throughout the album. Their songwriting has certainly matured and grown since we last saw them.

The one downside that I really saw to this album was that there wasn't necessarily a breakout song like Time Is A Runaway, off of Good and Wreckless and True. There are a number of absolutely fantastic songs on this disc, but none necessarily felt as free and clear as that song, which recieved wide radio play on adult alternative stations. The opening track here, On and On We Whisper, comes close, but overall, this album sounds far tighter, and moves with a purpose. While the first one felt like the group was trying to find their best sound, this album sounds like they've found it, but they didn't really deviate from that.

In the end, it's clear that there is something fantastic here. From their first album, these guys had a fantastic sound that really grew into something better with this second release (as well as the two EPs that they have released in the past two years). The sound has been refined, there's a clear theme and aim, and it all sounds good.

The group is currently on a short set of stops along the east coast. If you're nearby, do yourself a favor and check them out:

  • Mar 21 2009 9:00P WorkPlay Theatre Birmingham, Alabama
  • Mar 22 2009 8:00P Sudworks Taphouse - Acoustic Duo Columbia, North Carolina
  • Mar 23 2009 9:00P Local 506 - Acoustic Duo Chapel Hill, North Carolina
  • Mar 26 2009 7:30P StageOne Fairfield, Connecticut
  • Mar 27 2009 9:00P World Cafe Live (Upstairs) Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
  • Mar 28 2009 8:00P 9:30 Club - w/ Honor By August Washington DC
  • Apr 8 2009 7:45P The Mercury Lounge New York, New York

All That I See - The Alternate Routes

Thursday, March 12, 2009

Cover and Original - Early Morning Rain


I haven't done this in a while, here's an original song by one of my absoute favorite musicians, Gordon Lightfoot, and a couple of covers. I've always liked this song - it's a big of a travel one, and the imagery that Lightfoot puts into the song is fantastic. 


Early Morning Rain - Gordon Lightfoot

Wednesday, March 11, 2009

It pours, man, it pours



It's raining today, and the weather of late here has been very dreary. It's one of those days.



Come Wind, Come Rain - Vashti Bunyan
Have You Seen The Rain? - Creedence Clearwater Revival
It Never Rains in Southern California - Albert Hammond
Rainy Day People - Gordon Lightfoot
River Man - Nick Drake

Friday, March 6, 2009

Look to the Stars



When ships to sail the void between the stars have been invented, there will also be men who come forward to sail those ships.” -Johannes Kepler


Tonight, NASA will launch the Kepler Satellite, the first satellite that will be able of detecting earth-like planets in other solar systems in the Milky Way.


Opening - James Horner

Wednesday, March 4, 2009

Alexi Murdoch Announces Tour





One of my all time favorite singer/song writers, Alexi Murdoch, has recently announced that he'll be on tour in the US this spring. Even more exciting, he will be swinging through my home state of Vermont. Murdoch, for those of you who don't know him, came around in 2003 with his acclaimed EP Four Songs, and followed it up in 2006 with the brilliant Time Without Consequence. A number of his songs have been used on television shows, giving him wide appeal. An announcement on his myspace page noted that the song Through the Dark, which was heard in the song Gone Baby Gone and the television show House, MD, was a new song, which has me extremely hopeful that there will be a new album coming from him shortly.

Needless to say, I'm excited. There's a short list of artists that are an absolute priority should they come my area, and he's right at the top of it, along with similar artists such as Bon Iver and Iron & Wine.

In the meantime, here's his tour schedule.

  • Apr 4 2009 8:00P Doug Fir Lounge Portland, Oregon
  • Apr 5 2009 8:00P The Vera Project Seattle, Washington
  • Apr 7 2009 7:30P Great American Music Hall San Francisco, California
  • Apr 8 2009 9:00P El Rey Los Angeles, California
  • Apr 11 2009 8:00P Sokol Underground Omaha, Nebraska
  • Apr 12 2009 8:00P Majestic Theatre Madison, Wisconsin
  • Apr 13 2009 8:00P Varsity Theater Minneapolis, Minnesota
  • Apr 14 2009 9:30P Empty Bottle Chicago, Illinois
  • Apr 16 2009 9:00P Blind Pig Ann Arbor, Michigan
  • Apr 17 2009 8:00P The Theatre of Living Arts Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
  • Apr 18 2009 7:00P Iron Horse Music Hall Northampton, Massachusetts
  • Apr 19 2009 7:30P Higher Ground Burlington, Vermont
  • Apr 21 2009 8:30P Rock and Roll Hotel Washington, Washington DC
  • Apr 22 2009 9:00P The Bowery Ballroom New York, New York
  • Apr 23 2009 9:00P Paradise Rock Club Boston, Massachusetts

Orange Sky - Alexi Murdoch
Breathe - Alexi Murdoch

Hype - Buy - Look

DMB Announced New Album: Big Whiskey and the Groogrux King



The Dave Matthews Band has announced a release date and title for their upcoming 7th studio album earlier last week. The album, their first since 2005, will be titled Big Whiskey and the Groogrux King, and will be released June 2nd, a push back from the anticipated April release date.
Before people go guh?, a little explanation is in order for the title here. It's essentially a reference to departed band member LeRoi Moore, who died from injuries sustained during an ATV accident last summer.
Moore will be highly missed in this next album, although he has been replaced with Jeff Coffin on the saxophone, while Rashawn Ross will pick up the trumpet for the band. There isn't any indication as to what songs will be included here, but the band has announced a summer tour in support of the album. You can see the complete list here.

The Best of What's Around
- Dave Matthew's Band


Tuesday, March 3, 2009

Previously on Carry You Away



These weren't listed on Hype because of where I uploaded them, so now we'll upload to a place that does link in.

New Artist: Lisa Piccirillo
Momentum - Lisa Piccirillo

Album Review: Battler
Broken Through - Gregory Douglass
Hang Around - Gregory Douglass


We'll now return to ... whatever it was you were doing, and work on getting this back together.

Monday, March 2, 2009

New Artist: Lisa Piccirillo



One of the true pleasures of listening to music is the element of discovery. A little less now that I've pulled back from music blogging, but when you get into the scene a bit, names will just jump out at you. Over the past couple of weeks, I've been listening to Gregory Douglass's latest album, Battler, and just saw him at the Higher Ground with a couple of Vermont singers.

Singing along with him for the entire evening, however, was Lisa Piccirillo, who is a strong singer/songwriter in her own right - she's just released her first album, Momentum, which was on sale during the concert, and which I picked up via iTunes.

Listening to Piccirillo, several artists came to mind right away - Sara Wheeler and Jess Clemons, to start, which bodes extremely well for this new artist. There's the overt elements here - soft, gentle guitar work, a carefree sound and lyrics that are evocative and poetic in their own right. Wheeler and Clemons both did this with their songs, and Piccirillo seems to fall in the same vein. She doesn't sound exactly the same, but she has her own, very strong voice and sense of direction. This was certainly demonstrated while on stage with Douglass, where she really held her own, but provided an essential element of flavor to Battler, and listening back over that album, she was just as vital for some songs.

The sound here is certainly nothing new by any standards, but oftentimes, I'm not looking for something completely new and revolutionary - there is a reason why I really like this sound - it makes me feel relaxed and at peace, and Lisa has summed up this sound fantastically with this album. There isn't a track that doesn't sound brilliant, and it has a feel like this is a labor of love, not something that has been over-thought and over mastered, but rather, honest. It's a great reminder that not all independent artists are out to make a name for themselves by doing something ridiculous and over the top, but because they love to sing, and that's what we seem to have here. Momentum is a fantastic album, and Lisa Piccirillo is an artist to keep an eye out for.

Momentum - Lisa Piccirillo