CARBON LEAF
Indian Summer (Vanguard)
Reviewed by Shaun Dale

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Carbon Leaf comes to their first label deal as less a mystery than many indie bands, with four strong releases on their own imprint, opening gigs for luminaries like Dave Matthews and the first American Music Award ever handed out to an unsigned band.

Still, Indian Summer, their first release on Vanguard, will be a revelation to many, myself included. My first spin of the disc was one of those "Where have these guys been all my life?" moments, as the Virginia based quintet rolled out one song after another that seemed strangely familiar (largely because they incorporate so many of my favorite musical elements, with veins of Celtic and bluegrass woven into their basic fabric of rock), yet fully original (largely on the basis of some extremely strong songwriting chops).

Needless to say, it's gotten a lot of plays around my house. It's certainly one of those discs that's easier to play (and play, and play...) than to write about, simply because their sound so successfully avoids description by the kind of cliches that are the reviewers stock in trade.

It's just like - well, no it isn't. Actually, Carbon Leaf is just like Carbon Leaf, which is to say, magnificent.

Track List:

Life Less Ordinary * What About Everything? * Changeless * This Is My Song! * Grey Sky Eyes * Raise The Roof * Paloma * One Prairie Outpost * Let Your Troubles Roll By * When I'm Alone * The Sea

© 2004 - Shaun Dale