Customer Reviews

Love, Loss, Hope, Repeat

5 star:		(12)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Carbon Leaf has always succeeded in straddling a few genres including folk and celtic. This one feels a little more campfire and a little less rowdy pub. The vocals are strong as always and the guitar riffs soothing. One thing that really sticks out on this album is the drumming. This is by far the most aggresive drumming on any of their albums. It strikes an odd contrast between the assaulting drums and the somewhat mellower vocals and guitar.

In my review of Indian Summer (their previous release) I complained that Carbon Leaf was just rehashing their sound. After hearing Love-Loss I owe the band an apology. Seeing where the band is now, it becomes more apparent that Indian Summer was actually quite transitional. I think I'll always prefer the album that made me fall in love with the band (Echo Echo) but I continue to be impressed with their growth even if it's away from their distinct Irish/Rock flavor and into a mellower Leaf.

Tracks to listen to NOW: Under the Wire, The War Was In Color

Carbon Leaf's sound continues to evolve, and the results are outstanding. The band says it has given up trying to "define" its style of music, since it's a shifting blend of so many influences and original ideas. In the past, Carbon Leaf has played variations of rootsy folk-rock with Celtic, bluegrass, and alt-pop flourishes. This new album is focused more on a clean but no less impressive, straightforward pop-rock sound that's catchy without being cloying, radio-friendly without being superficial. Even with this focus, there's excellent variety: "Block of Wood" has a gorgeous country-rock lilt, for example, while "International Airport" flirts with jazz. All in all, this is a polished gem that deserves to be the band's breakout album.

The songs range from engaging ("Bright Lights," "Love Loss Hope Repeat") to anthemic ("Learn to Fly," "Comfort") to heartbreaking ("Block of Wood") to humorous ("A Girl and Her Horse") to profound ("The War Was in Color"). If you enjoy infectious melodies, stunning harmonies, thought-provoking and often bittersweet lyrics, beautiful instrumentation, and pristine, finely crafted production, you will love this album.

There are acoustic rhythm guitars aplenty, neatly embellished with subtle electric guitar riffs and fills (Terry Clark and Carter Gravatt), anchored by a killer rhythm section (Jordan Medas on bass and Scott Milstead on drums) and some touches of mandolin (Gravatt again). This album also has a bit more keyboard work than some of Carbon Leaf's earlier releases, courtesy of guest musician Tim Lauer. Soaring above it all is the clear, resonant and at times hypnotic voice of lead singer Barry Privett, who also writes all of the band's lyrics.

This is my favorite release of 2006 so far, along with "Ganging Up on the Sun" by Guster. Both new and longtime fans of Carbon Leaf have much to celebrate with "Love, Loss, Hope, Repeat."

I have to write this review because this band's lyrics and music have been haunting my soul for the past year or so, particularly the last three months following the release of "Love, Loss, Hope, Repeat". I picked up an advance copy of the CD about a month before it came out, after I was already a huge fan of their last CD, "Indian Summer". That CD, incidentally, is nearly flawless in every way. So much so that I was convinced no band could ever reproduce another piece of art like that twice. However, "Love..." not only matches the brilliance of "Indian...", but it is equally on par in every way. With no pictures to look at and no liner notes to read, I let the music speak for itself. And boy oh boy, does it ever. After repeated listens, not only does it get better and better but I want to hear it again all the more. This is a band that has managed to get very close to the fire of greatness and is crafting music of a supremely higher order. I felt like they were my own, and I got to go see them play on this tour in a little club in Rhode Island, and they took it to an even higher level. Carbon Leaf is actually an amazing band to see perform live in concert. I'm already wishing I could fly down to Virginia to see them again. I'm certain by the next time I see them, it will be in an arena. I wish that they could stay 'mine' forever, but that is not going to happen. They are poised on the brink and ready to explode, and I can't wait to see it. This semi-jaded music lover has not been as rabid of a fan for a band in a very long time. Look, after a lifetime of buying CDs and listening to music, I've learned one thing. There are only two types of music, good music and bad music. Carbon Leaf is great music. Go ahead. Enjoy, world.

Once again these guys put out another amazing album. It is a little different from some of their earlier stuff, but none the less still the Carbon Leaf I know and love. None of the songs are really as automaticlly catchy like some of their previous CD's, I found that the more I listened to it, the more I liked it. When I first got it, I won't lie, I was mildly disappointed, no real "Boxer" or "My Song" style songs, and I thought they were trying to move away from the Single-ish sound. And yet, now having the CD for a few weeks, it has become one of my top 3 of theirs (Echo Echo, and Indian Summer are the other two, and yes, I do have all of their albums). Of those three I really don't have a favorite, it more depends on my mood. Anyway, great album, take a little bit of getting used to, ut if you are a Carbon Leaf fan, this is a must have, period.

On the CL website, a fan remarked that Carbon Leaf's music is the "soundtrack to my life". If you've experienced that feeling after listening to Carbon Leaf's previous material, you won't be disappointed with the latest release, 'Love, Loss, Hope, Repeat'. The album, thematically, continues to expand on the themes of finding beauty (and maybe truth)in the moment, and reconciling feelings about love and life. Barry's songwriting is compelling and solid: each song is a convincing story with a beginning, middle and an end. We know what he's feeling; we've been there, too. He delivers the material with trademark emotion in that strong, steady and beautiful tenor voice that is very likely one of the best voices in popular music.

The band has come a long way from its original Virginian/Gaelic roots sound. Longtime fans will always be sentimentalists about the older material (Mary Mac!), but guys, if you're reading this, LLHR *will* be your breakout album! This release has successfully "crossed over" into a new, distinct place that acknowledges what has gone before but expresses more depth and sophistication. New listeners need to know that Carbon Leaf is an authentic group of exceptionally talented musicians who excel instrumentally. There isn't a bad track on this disc. You will play it over and over, and realize that a "Carbon Leaf" state of mind is a good place to be.

Check out the video found on this site, and explore carbonleaf.com. You'll be a fan soon enough...see you at the next show.

"I'm a steel freight train; I'm a train wreck, hauling back to you".

Carbon Leaf's "Love, Loss, Hope, Repeat" collection features a number of improvements over their previous efforts, but they seem to have lost some of the distinctive celtic sound along the way.
The first single, "Learn to Fly" and the title track both offer their signature catchy complex lyrics without being too hook-laden. "A Girl and Her Horse" is a fun examination of women as perceived by men, also featuring very memorable lyrics. "War Was In Color" is a great example of storytelling and the band's website has featured a short fan-made video of this song using footage from WWII and possibly later engagements. "Block of Wood" seems to be one of those songs that grows on you over time, much like "Paloma" on Indian Summer. "Texas Stars" has been available from the band for awhile and, frankly, almost sounds tired on this recording, although perhaps I'm just tired of the song. "International Airport" definitely brings a smile to my face and is a great way to wrap the CD on a high note.

Barry Privett's voice, both as a singer and as a songwriter, is rich with feeling and imagery and is definitely not your typical pop tenor. The band as a unit seems to be more cohesive than previously, but there seems to be less opportunity for each one to shine. Overall, if you liked the growth and direction from Echo Echo to Indian Summer, I think you'll enjoy most of what Love Loss Hope Repeat has to offer.

After listening to "Echo Echo" and "Indian Summer" my first impression of "Love, Loss, Hope, Repeat" was that it was a bit too soft and slow. However, the more I listened to it, the more it began to grow on me. I recentlty saw the band play live in Madison, Wisconsin and I have to say that the new songs are much more powerful when played live. It was an awesome concert and each song flowed smoothly into the next. They opened up with "Comfort" and it was full of energy and power. "Learn to Fly" as well as "Under The Wire" sounded amazing. I may have to rate the album a 5 star after a few more listens. My advice... catch these guys live. You won't be dissapointed.

This most innovative group blends acoustic and electric, organ and mandolin, with original songs to create a tight sound. Sometimes haunting, sometimes pedal to the medal, always enjoyable, they may be the greatest group ignored by format radio.

After "Indian Summer", I think I let myself expect too much. This is a good album, but it feels like they were in a bland mood the day they recorded it in the studio. The vocals are uninspiring, as are the rest of the instruments and the band's performance as a whole. They also kinda overdid the voice harmonizing effect, or whatever it is, effectively wearing it out (instead of just using it during certain choruses for max effect.) Maybe that's a production / sampling fault, not sure.

There's 2-3 songs on here that stand out from the others, and I find myself skipping the other songs on the CD to get to them. (That never happens when I put "Indian Summer" in!)

I really wanted to love this album - I was very excited to buy it - but it's really just OK. I've followed these guys since they were just a local band struggling to get radio play time on DC101. After owning "Love, Loss, Hope, Repeat" for 2 months and listening to it maybe 10 times, it's getting cycled out of my CD-holding sun visor in the car (where "Indian Summer" still remains).

I do hope that they can find whatever magic they had with "Indian Summer" and rekindle that for their next release.

I was recently introduced to Carbon Leaf and made this album my first purchase. Now, I can't stop listening! The songwriting is tight, the vocals are amazing, and the musicianship is wonderful. I've recommended this cd to numerous friends. If you are interested in hearing five talented guys on their way up, get this one now ... and then come back for some of their earlier releases.