Carbon Leaf Countdown #15: I Know The Reason

{Feb 13}

Doug2000s No Comments

Another in the long line of songs from Echo Echo hits the countdown next. At #15, it’s “I Know The Reason!”

“I Know The Reason” might be one of the first songs I really, really enjoyed from Carbon Leaf. Echo Echo was the first album I really listened to by the band and this along with a few others were ones I quickly started re-playing over and over again. Fans of the band and fans of the album will definitely know what I’m talking about here. There are a bunch of cool parts in the song, but I think my favorite feeling of the song is that it just sounds like a laid-back jam. Sure, the chorus picks up substantially, but it sounds like something a house band came up with while just fiddling around. And it sounds great. The steady guitar & drum parts, the see-saw bass melody, the guitar fills, and even the piano. It all adds up to a great song you’re just going to want to replay over and over! More

Carbon Leaf Countdown #16: Changeless

{Feb 12}

Doug2000s No Comments

One of Carbon Leaf’s most simple songs and definitely one of the most poignant comes up next. At #16, it’s “Changeless!”

I know there’s an intriciate mandolin (right?) part in here, but overall, the song is so simple. The lyrics are minimal, the bass melody is simple, the drum beat just keeps it chugging along. Carbon Leaf gets it though: less is more. With a song like this, do you need a cool drum part? Do you need a face-melting guitar solo? Do you need new words for the chorus each time they come along? The song keeps it very simple and really lets the lyrics, minimal as they are, take control and really play with your mind a bit. More

Carbon Leaf Countdown #17: Another Man’s Woman

{Feb 12}

Doug2000s 4 Comments

The namesake for Nothing Rhymes With Woman shows up in our countdown next. At #17, it’s “Another Man’s Woman!”

If CCR came out during the 2000s, they might write songs like this one. It’s got such a bayou sound to it which of course has to do with that swamp twang of a guitar melody. I can almost smell the gator in the water as that guitar drags in the beginning seconds of the song. This is one of the songs too that just make Carbon Leaf so hard to place in a genre again too. Sure, there are some folk elements in the song, but would you put this up against any of their other folk songs? Sure, it’s got a clear-cut rock sound, but that southern, almost country twang to it is almost unmistakable. Plus, what country band would sing a song like this that well? More

Carbon Leaf Countdown #19: Miss Hollywood

{Feb 10}

Doug2000s 1 Comment

Next up is a highlight from Carbon Leaf’s 2009 album Nothing Rhymes With Woman talking about those elusive dreams. At #19, it’s “Miss Hollywood.”

Come on, who doesn’t really, really like this song? Sure, you might not have included it in your top 25 or are in full love with it, but who really doesn’t enjoy this great song? Don’t get me wrong, there are better songs to me on the album, but it’s really easy to see why the band or label or both picked this song as the lead single off that album. This is going to be that “why aren’t Carbon Leaf bigger” debate again too. You’re fore-warned. Why isn’t Carbon Leaf bigger? Seriously, if I look at the list of songs that hit number one in 2009, is someone really going to tell me that The Black Eyed Peas write better songs than this? Catchier sure, but better in any sense of the word? The answer has to be no! Oh, “My Life Would Suck Without You” was number one that year too. Think about that… More

Carbon Leaf Countdown #20: On Any Given Day

{Feb 10}

Doug2000s 1 Comment

Coming in at #20 is another stylistically odd-ball from 2001′s Echo Echo. Don’t run away or you’ll find it gone, it’s “On Any Given Day!”

There’s three songs I really think stand-out from the others musically on Echo Echo. In my opinion, it’s “Mellow Tone,” “Maybe Today,” and “On Any Given Day.” They just don’t seem to be songs with obvious Irish influences and it’s not a bad thing. In fact, it makes them stick in your head a little longer like an up-tempo guitar song on an album full of mournful piano songs. I think the song is relatively low-key too (for a reason I’ll go into later). Light guitar melody, a cello background, and a chorus that uses the brash electric chords merely as backdrop. It’s a neat little backdrop to in this song as it’s not too overpowering, but definitely something you could see yourself air-miming when overly excited. Trust me, people do it in public. It’s slightly embarrassing. Well, except when I do it. More

Carbon Leaf Countdown #22: Tip Toe

{Jan 31}

Doug2000s 3 Comments

Perhaps the biggest surprise of the countdown clocks in at #22. It’s an Amazon exclusive to Nothing Rhymes With Woman: “Tip Toe!”

I’m actually really, really excited this song made the countdown. I thought it stood no chance because it is not that well-known of a Carbon Leaf song being an Amazon-exclusive bonus track of their 2009 album. Then votes started coming in and it got into the top 50. Then more votes came in and it kept climbing up. Before I knew it, it was the end of the countdown and somehow “Tip Toe” ended up at #22. 22! Well-known or not, I think it’s a really strong statement to just how good of a song this is. It’s not an overly complicated song either. More

Carbon Leaf Countdown #23: Block Of Wood

{Jan 31}

Doug2000s 5 Comments

A more laid-back folk sing-a-long clocks in at #23. From Love Loss Hope Repeat, it’s “Block Of Wood!”

As I said, the song is an extremely laid-back folk song that almost reminds me of a folk song your grandfather teaches you over a bonfire in the backyard. As Barry croons, the drums pat away, and the guitars strum, I can almost smell the embers burning in front of my nose. It sure helps matters with the lyrics telling the story of a family gone awry, but it’s the melody and the strong vocal work that make this a strong addition to the Love Loss Hope Repeat album. Seeing it live really accentuates that old-timey, folk feeling of the song. Huddled around their Grand Ole Opry mic, they gather around with the washboard in tow for the percussion and sing away like it’s 1940 and you’re waiting for the radio broadcast that night. Oh, the fire has to be there too. More

Older Entries Newer Entries

Get Adobe Flash playerPlugin by wpburn.com wordpress themes