Carbon Leaf Countdown #34: Midwestern Girl

Jan 27

Doug2010s carbon leaf 1 Comment

At #34 is perhaps the best song to ever be written featuring the state of Iowa. Or maybe the only song. Who knows? Anyway, it’s “Midwestern Girl!”

“Midwestern Girl” would probably be the pick for the single off this EP if Carbon Leaf did in fact release one from it and it’s most people’s consensus for stand-out track from that album. To me, it seems like an odd Carbon Leaf song for some reason. Lyrically & vocally, the song is spot on Carbon Leaf, but the music just reminds me of something else besides Carbon Leaf. That drum beat, guitar work, piano melody, et cetera; just sounds like something different. It really just might be the addition of the piano which really isn’t somethign Carbon Leaf utilizes enough. It definitley adds a different layer to the song and makes it stand-out against other tracks on the EP. Of course, we all love a good sing-a-long and who’s not going to get, “I-O-W-A-Now” stuck in your head.

Gotta say this too: the song will always be cool because myself and a few other hundreds are featured at the end as the audience loops. They recorded it at Maymont Park in May 2010 and encouraged the whole crowd to sing along as loudly as possible so they could feature it in the song. Just one of those cool Carbon Leaf memories that’s going to stick with me for a while I believe. That and driving to that show in 100+ heat with the driver refusing to put on AC. Mrs. Schoengeorge, I’m looking at you. I’ve been to plenty Carbon Leaf shows over the year and spent more money on tickets than I’d care to admit. For reasons like this, it’s all worth it. Each show really is unique and different even if they were to play the exact same set. Above all the rest, screaming “I-O-W-A-Now” and being able to listen to it almost two years later on CD is pretty awesome.

Song: Midwestern Girl
Album: How The West Was Vol. 1
Year: 2010