Customer Reviews

Nothing Rhymes With Woman (AMAZON EXCLUSIVE)

5 star:		(18)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(5)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Carbon Leaf's newest album Nothing Rhymes With Woman is a good combination of singable tunes with enough edge to make for a good listening CD. I have had a chance to listen to this CD several times over and have also heard some of the new songs performed in concert. I must say the new songs fit in nicely with the older Carbon Leaf catalog. There are some who may wish for the Echo Echo days when there was more of a Celtic influence to Carbon Leaf's music, but bands and people change and apparantly this is the exact album the band wanted to make. While some of the tracks do sound a bit overproduced, there is still enough power in the songs to lift it through. My personal favorites are Indecision, Miss Hollywood, Lake of Silver Bells, Pink, and Seed.

Carbon Leaf has always been that alternative band that has come ohh so close to breaking through to "bigger" time status. I am not sure if this album will do it, or whether the band even cares about that anymore, but this is an overall very good album and will be playing in my car all summer.

Nothing Rhymes With Woman is, in short, a mediocre effort by a band of enormous potential. I've been a fan of Carbon Leaf for over seven years now but neither this album, nor Love, Loss, Hope, Repeat adequately capture the ingenuity of Carbon Leaf's songwriting genius. One could speculate that this is because of pressures from their mainstream label or the recent departure of two founding members; but whatever the reason, Carbon Leaf's sound isn't what it used to be. I recommend going back to Echo Echo or Ether-Electrified Porch Music for a real taste of what these incredible musicians can do.

After the very disappointing "Love, Loss, Hope, Repeat", I'm thrilled to hear the creativity and musicianship that I have grown to expect from Carbon Leaf. As a long time fan (first saw them in March of 2002) I feel like this album is something they can be proud of again. The lyrics are witty and thoughtful, with none of the awkwardness I saw in LLHR. "Lake of Silver Bells" is a standout, and was the song the audience called for last time I saw them live. I got the distinct feeling watching that show that this was music they were proud of and happy to sing. I'm very happy to listen.

I am new to Carbon Leaf and was luck enough to have seen them live once. I didn't get into them until their last album, worked my way back and became a fan, so I haven't seen them grow as much as some fans here but I do see the change in this new album and its all for the better. Some of the different songs on the album are "another man's woman," which has a bluesy tone. "Lake of Silver Bells" always makes me sing along, and "Pink" is a song that moves me to my soul. Music should felt in your bones, fiber and soul and that what Carbon Leaf does for me. Pick up this album, you won't be disappointed.

Good Carbon Leaf; classic CL sound is in there, sometimes not so obvious. I listened to this album for a week straight-I got to know the music. The first four tracks are outstanding. The big airplay song, "Lake of Silver Bells" is good, but not the best on the album. "What Have You Learned" has a pop-ish sound to it, but it's really good despite the trolls who shun anything remotely familiar. "X-Ray" is a hilarious account of growing up and all the goofy things a kid does, I don't understand the "lawnmowers everywhere" chorus, but I'm sure it's an inside joke. I won't comment on every track, but it's all Good stuff!

Shun the few nay-sayer reviews and support these great musicians, I think you'll like it.

The first time I listened to this CD I was reading a book, so I am afraid that my first impression is unimportant because I was not completely engaged. That being said, I put the CD on when cleaning the house and I was surprised by what I heard. I was surprised in the best way possible. Honestly, I had no idea what to expect out of this album from Carbon Leaf because of the vastly varied reviews it was getting here on Amazon, and having only read one critical review (which was positive) still left me wondering what I would hear. I will leave you with a few highlights from the CD that should help you understand what you are getting into before you choose to buy.

First, the album opens with the track "Indecision", a liltingly energetic song, with Barry Privet's vocals at their most traditional Carbon Leaf style. It is a good opening track because it is a song that is immediately recognizable as Carbon Leaf (the vocal harmonies,and guitar riffs) but also points in a new direction.

The second song, "Another Man's Woman", worried me at first. Carbon Leaf is a band who supports traditional (and by now, old fashioned) American ideals, such as the occasional necessity of a just war, family ties, contemplation of your childhood, and love that takes it's time. "Another Man's Woman" does fit in with the traditional American values, as well as being a strong addition to their stylistic repertoire. With a hard, bluesy feel, the song, both lyrically and musically displays the dangers of being in love with a taken woman. The choice to combine new lyrical territory with a new sound was a fantastic one in this case and makes the song one of the strongest on the album. "Cinnamindy", the fourth song on the album, also successfully employs this new blues sound,and Barry's voice fits this style very well.

Song five, "Lake of Silver Bells" is probably the biggest stylistic surprise on the album. Barry Privet uses his falsetto in a completely new way and actually manages to sound very much like Chris Martin of Coldplay (especially from their X&Y album)on this song. And it is beautiful. If you love Barry's voice this song may make you fall in love with it even more. Barry travels the high and low notes of this song as effortlessly as catamaran sails the waves in the hands of a skilled sailor. And the waves are are an electric guitar played as only Carbon Leaf can, but sonically similar to what you might hear from Coldplay. Let me emphasize that they are still very much Carbon Leaf, but this is very new stylist ground for them and I think they navigate it with perfection. (One other reviewer said this CD could have been released with Chris Martin's face on the cover. Not true. Chris Martin does not sing the blues.)

Overall, the CD is a very strong one. It would take too long to go through each song, although maybe someone should because Carbon Leaf is all about charting new territory on this album. I think the CD is beautiful, achingly beautiful in some places and many of the songs grab ahold of my soul and just move me; kind of the way I felt the first time that I heard "Let Your Troubles Roll By" on Indian Summer. Old fans, give this a listen (or two if you were reading a book the first time) because Carbon Leaf has so much more to offer here than ever before. If you have never heard Carbon Leaf before, this might be a good place to start. It is quickly becoming my favorite Carbon Leaf CD.

I have been a Carbon Leaf fan for about 3 years now, and managed to get to see them live once. So most of what I know is all album music from them. I love 90% of this album. I can hear their growth and moving towards a newer, deeper sound. As always the lyrics are meaningful and catch you as you listen to the songs, but the music has to catch in your soul and move you too. My favorite tracks are X-Ray, Lake of Silver Bells, Pink, Indecision, Miss Hollywood, and Tip Toe. I also like Another Man's woman, but it's such a bluesie number and out of the norm from them, that is why I like it. Don't hesitate to purchase the album, and get the special one with the acoustic "Lake of Silver Bells" for a special treat.

Carbon Leaf's newest album Nothing Rhymes With Woman is a good combination of singable tunes with enough edge to make for a good listening CD. I have had a chance to listen to this CD several times over and have also heard some of the new songs performed in concert. I must say the new songs fit in nicely with the older Carbon Leaf catalog. There are some who may wish for the Echo Echo days when there was more of a Celtic influence to Carbon Leaf's music, but bands and people change and apparantly this is the exact album the band wanted to make. While some of the tracks do sound a bit overproduced, there is still enough power in the songs to lift it through. My personal favorites are Indecision, Miss Hollywood, Lake of Silver Bells, Pink, and Seed.

Carbon Leaf has always been that alternative band that has come ohh so close to breaking through to "bigger" time status. I am not sure if this album will do it, or whether the band even cares about that anymore, but this is an overall very good album and will be playing in my car all summer.

Three years in the making, "Nothing Rhymes With Woman", is the band's definitive creative and artistic statement. From the iconic image of the burning tree, to the enigmatic title, to the radio ready pop perfection of the single "Miss Hollywood", this is the Carbon Leaf album that we have all been waiting for. Fans of "Echo Echo" and "Indian Summer" will be thrilled and delighted by the blissful musical ear candy that is "NRWW". Barry Privett's wonderfully reminiscent, reflective lyrics and crooning tenor have never sounded better, Carter Gravatt's playful and evocative guitar picking style are in top form, and Terry Clark's driving bed of acoustic guitars and joyful vocal harmonies soar. Jason Neal on drums and Jon Markel on bass provide the perfect rhythmic accompanient. "NRWW" is a heavy set of instant Carbon Leaf classics, worthy of many repeat listenings. Longtime fans will instantly fall in love with "Mexico", "Pink", and "Lake Of Silver Bells", followed soon thereafter by "X-Ray", "Drops Of Rain", and of course the album opener, "Indecision". The band is riding high, and from the sound of things, having a lot of fun along the way. There is a lot to love about this album, and there is a lot to love about Carbon Leaf. They get better and better with every release, and never stop growing and maturing as a band. "NRWW" might just be the album that catapluts them to much deserved and long overdue rockstar status, and garners them a legion of eager new fans. Be sure to catch them on the road this summer is support of this wonderful new record. Nothing Rhymes With Woman, and Nothing Sounds Like Carbon Leaf. See you out there on the road, boys!

Three years in the making, "Nothing Rhymes With Woman", is the band's definitive creative and artistic statement. From the iconic image of the burning tree, to the enigmatic title, to the radio ready pop perfection of the single "Miss Hollywood", this is the Carbon Leaf album that we have all been waiting for. Fans of "Echo Echo" and "Indian Summer" will be thrilled and delighted by the blissful musical ear candy that is "NRWW". Barry Privett's wonderfully reminiscent, reflective lyrics and crooning tenor have never sounded better, Carter Gravatt's playful and evocative guitar picking style are in top form, and Terry Clark's driving bed of acoustic guitars and joyful vocal harmonies soar. Jason Neal on drums and Jon Markel on bass provide the perfect rhythmic accompanient. "NRWW" is a heavy set of instant Carbon Leaf classics, worthy of many repeat listenings. Longtime fans will instantly fall in love with "Mexico", "Pink", and "Lake Of Silver Bells", followed soon thereafter by "X-Ray", "Drops Of Rain", and of course the album opener, "Indecision". The band is riding high, and from the sound of things, having a lot of fun along the way. There is a lot to love about this album, and there is a lot to love about Carbon Leaf. They get better and better with every release, and never stop growing and maturing as a band. "NRWW" might just be the album that catapluts them to much deserved and long overdue rockstar status, and garners them a legion of eager new fans. Be sure to catch them on the road this summer is support of this wonderful new record. Nothing Rhymes With Woman, and Nothing Sounds Like Carbon Leaf. See you out there on the road, boys!