“For me, this is an album that’s focused on growth and maturity, but it’s not deadly serious,” says front man Barry Privett. “I wanted to examine my life and the lives of my family and friends and do it with a little bit of a wink. The last thing I wanted to do was get all dark and overwrought.”
Privett and his bandmates dodge that pitfall with aplomb on Nothing Rhymes With Woman, the much-anticipated follow-up to the acclaimed 2006 offering Love, Loss, Hope, Repeat. As ever, the quintet -- recently joined by drummer Jason Neal, a veteran of the southeast’s club circuit, and Seattle bassist Jon Markel -- challenge themselves and listeners by steadfastly refusing to retrace old steps, bringing in like-minded collaborators (like Toby Lightman, who brings a burnished tone to her vocal parts on the gritty “Meltdown”) and taking off in plenty of new directions of their own accord.
That sense of freshness, to hear Privett tell the tale, has a lot to do with the relaxed nature of the disc’s recording, which took place in their Richmond, Virginia backyard. “This time, we did something we hadn’t done in a long time, and that was to just throw away the timeline altogether,” says the singer. “We waited until everyone believed in every single song without any doubt or questions. It was a return to the days of doing music for the sheer joy of just doing it.”
The joy he’s talking about proves contagious throughout the 13-song disc, both in sonic touches like the soaring harmonies that buoy “Indecision” and the instantly relatable vibe of narratives like the nostalgic childhood flashback “X-Ray.” The tones are certainly varied -- things get more than a little misty on “Pink,” a poignant tale of a woman battling serious illness -- but they’re invariably free of artificiality. Every color here is one that one can find in nature.
“A lot of the songs are about getting back to your roots,” says Privett, who reckons the band gained a lot of traction by spending a considerable stretch of time close to home, as opposed to its usual relentless touring slate. “You know, holding onto the touchstones that keep you grounded in reality. They’re easy to lose sight of sometimes, and often you need reminding. Fortunately, we have friends and family that will do that in no uncertain terms.”
Nothing Rhymes With Woman finds the Virginia-based band firmly in touch with its roots -- the Celtic tinge that cloaks “Pink” is reminiscent of Carbon Leaf’s passel of self-released discs. Throughout the set, however, the quintet affirms a commitment to moving forward, kicking out the jams a bit more aggressively on the sinewy walking blues “Another Man’s Woman” and interpolating the rich organ playing of longtime Dave Matthews Band keyboardist Butch Taylor on several tracks, including the arresting opener “Indecision.”
“It’s always been really important to us to keep an organic feel to what we do,” says Privett. “For us, recording this album was like a renewal, kind of like the coming of spring. In a way, it’s very sensual, very sexual, gentle and mellow in spots, but also acknowledges a fair share of optimism and a re-awakening to new possibilities.
In 2004, Vanguard released Carbon Leaf’s breakthrough disc, Indian Summer, which earned rave reviews from sources like The Washington Post, which marveled at Privett’s ability to “capture the emotional ache of a twenty-something as he watches his friends scatter to the four corners of the world”. For the next year and a half, the quintet would set about winning over audiences while on tour -- a recipe that helped "Life Less Ordinary" and "What About Everything?” up the charts.
That winning streak continued with Love, Loss, Hope, Repeat, a darker collection, recorded in Nashville, that showcased other facets of the Carbon Leaf sound and rose to number-three on Billboard’s Top New Artists chart. “We definitely stretched ourselves on that album,” says Privett. “It was unsettling in a way, but definitely helped us find ourselves.”
Reunited with producer John Morand, who manned the board for Indian Summer, Carbon Leaf takes the proverbial next step on Nothing Rhymes With Woman. The multi-instrumental web woven by Carter Gravatt and Terry Clark provides a perfect backdrop for Privett’s tenor, which hovers ethereally on “Lake of Silver Bells” and cuts with the precision of a knife wielded by a master chef on the poignant “Miss Hollywood.”
“I think ’Miss Hollywood,’ like a lot of the album, has a kind of feminine energy, which helps explain the title,” says Privett. “It’s that balance of strength and fragility, of keeping dreams in check, but not forgetting where they came from. It’s a positive and nurturing energy, and that’s the feeling we’d like people to come away with when they listen to the album.”
Barry Privett: Vocals, guitar
Terry Clark: Guitar, vocals
Carter Gravatt: Guitar, vocals
Jason Neal: Drums, percussion
Jon Markel: Bass
Aurora
Carbon Leaf Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Viking Confident, am lucky I
Doomsday! A pillage-plunder magna cum laude
Solar flare! An eye-spy with a panavision glare
Sun's down, Oh no, where's the after-glow!
Burn midnight coal, time on a roll
mine enemy, mine enemy
doubt in the soul (forgot the goal)
Not Today
Ladder climbing high, speak in rungs
Spin the yarn to tie-up tired lungs
No time to breathe, grab the rope and hoist, mercy me
Too much to prove, what if callous hands burn milky-smooth?
Sun's down, Oh no, 'round, we merry-go!
Fade out, Fade out
Fool fighting sloth, poor candle moth
mine enemy mine enemy
Curiosity, now charred debris
mine enemy mine enemy
Not to Day/ Night to Day
AURORA!
Here we go again, destruct the plan
Technicolor bright, you yellow man
A damp fuse, stormy confidence now feeling blue
Wheel needs a cog, worn shoe, so goes the travelogue
Sun's down, oh no, where's the after-glow?
Time to Fade out, fade out
Ah, safely home (no need to roam)
Mine enemy, mine enemy
Faux-pahsitive (no fuel to sieve)
Mine enemy, mine enemy
Not Today
Aurora!
Time to Fade out, fade out
The song "Aurora" by Carbon Leaf features lyrics that are somewhat mysterious and open to interpretation. At its core, the song seems to be about the struggles of life and the constant battle against one's inner doubts and fears. Throughout the song, the singer mentions various obstacles and challenges, including climbing a ladder, speaking in rungs, and fighting sloth.
There is a sense of urgency in the lyrics, with mentions of burning midnight coal and a solar flare. The repeated phrase "mine enemy, mine enemy" suggests that the singer is battling with themselves and their own doubts and fears that hold them back from achieving their goals. The line "curiosity, now charred debris" perhaps represents the singer's desire to explore and seek knowledge, but being held back by their fears.
Towards the end of the song, the singer mentions the word "Aurora" repeatedly, which could represent hope or a sense of renewed energy. The song ends on a somewhat hopeful note, with the singer expressing relief at being "safely home" and not needing to "roam" any longer.
Line by Line Meaning
Shuffle in the feet, thrive alive
I feel invigorated and energized, and I am moving my feet excitedly
Viking Confident, am lucky I
I feel confident and brave, like a Viking, and I realize how fortunate I am
Doomsday! A pillage-plunder magna cum laude
I am overcome with thoughts of the apocalypse and wonder if I have what it takes to survive it, as if I am a successful graduate of a looting and raiding school
Solar flare! An eye-spy with a panavision glare
The energy and beauty of a solar flare has captured my attention, like a giant eye staring at me in high definition
Sun's down, Oh no, where's the after-glow!
The sun has set, and I am disappointed that the colorful glow that usually follows is missing
Burn midnight coal, time on a roll
I am figuratively burning the midnight oil, working hard, and achieving a lot
mine enemy, mine enemy
doubt in the soul (forgot the goal)
mine enemy, mine enemy
Not Today
I see the limitations and obstacles in my path, and I begin to doubt myself, but I remind myself not to be defeated, not today
Ladder climbing high, speak in rungs
I am climbing a figurative ladder towards my goals, and the language of success is now part of my vocabulary
Spin the yarn to tie-up tired lungs
I am telling a story that is captivating and exhausting at the same time
No time to breathe, grab the rope and hoist, mercy me
I am going at a fast pace, without taking a break, and everything seems overwhelming
Too much to prove, what if callous hands burn milky-smooth?
I feel the pressure to be perfect, and I worry about the consequences of making mistakes when everything is going well
Sun's down, Oh no, 'round, we merry-go!
The sun is setting again, and I feel like I am going in circles, like on a never-ending merry-go-round
Fade out, Fade out
Everything is fading away, and I feel like the lights are being turned off
Fool fighting sloth, poor candle moth
mine enemy mine enemy
Curiosity, now charred debris
mine enemy mine enemy
Not to Day/ Night to Day
AURORA!
I am fighting against laziness and destructiveness, like a foolish moth attracted to a burning candle, and I am reminded that following my curiosity can lead to disaster or enlightenment, depending on my choices. This is all part of the cycle of day and night, and it leads me to shout the name AURORA as a cry of hope or despair
Here we go again, destruct the plan
Technicolor bright, you yellow man
I feel like I am starting over, and I am ready to destroy the old plan and start fresh. The possibilities seem endless and colorful, but I am aware of the risks and dangers, like a character in a movie
A damp fuse, stormy confidence now feeling blue
Wheel needs a cog, worn shoe, so goes the travelogue
I feel like my enthusiasm has been dampened, and my usually strong confidence has been shaken by a stormy mood. I realize that something is missing in my plan, like a wheel missing a cog, or like a traveler with a worn-out shoe, and I wonder about where my journey will take me
Sun's down, oh no, where's the after-glow?
Time to Fade out, fade out
The sun has set again, and I realize that the glow I was hoping for is not there. It is time to let go and fade away
Ah, safely home (no need to roam)
Mine enemy, mine enemy
Faux-pahsitive (no fuel to sieve)
Mine enemy, mine enemy
Not Today
I am relieved to be back home, where there is no need to wander anymore. However, I am still aware of the obstacles and challenges I face, and I know that pretending everything is okay when it is not is not helpful. I will not let my enemy defeat me today
Aurora!
Time to Fade out, fade out
I cry out the name Aurora again, either as a plea or as a warning, and I accept that it is time to let go and fade away
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
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