“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
Comfort
Carbon Leaf Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I chased the dawn
And cursed the new day,
Out of town, till nobody was around.
Love came along, my favorite enemy,
We hit head-on.
Why you befriended me... I don't know.
When you've already lost control.
My life is open wide
The more you live, the less you will die.
Outside, floating free,
I'm finally open to see...
Could you be any more comfort to me?
Could you be...
You've figured out the warnings
And the reasons why,
You smoothed me out.
I hope you know there's nothing
I could give,
For showing me how to live.
I don't know how
But you know just how I feel.
Sticking out,
Like a dark horse in a snow white field.
Stirred up by the breeze,
Strong but not at peace,
Free but unreleased.
My life is open wide
The more you live, the less you will die.
Outside, floating free,
I'm finally open to see...
Could you be any more comfort to me?
Could you be any more comfort to me?
Caught up inside, all I wanna be...
Try to survive, all alone,
Outside your company.
Could you be any more comfort to me?
Could you be any more comfort to me?
The song "Comfort" by Carbon Leaf is a reflection on a personal journey towards self-discovery and the role that love played in that journey. The lyrics describe a car ride on an empty highway, as the singer attempts to escape from something or someone. However, they eventually meet their "favorite enemy," love, and despite the strong feelings they have, the singer is afraid of losing control. The chorus repeats the title of the song, asking if their partner could be any more of a comfort to them, suggesting that their partner has helped them to open up and see the world in a clearer way.
The middle section of the song is a direct address to the singer's partner, acknowledging that they have helped to smooth out their rough edges and showing them how to live. The singer describes feeling like a "dark horse in a snow white field," a metaphor for feeling out of place in life before finding their partner. The overall message of the song is one of gratitude and comfort in the presence of a supportive and loving partner who has helped the singer to grow and become more open and free.
Line by Line Meaning
I raced along an empty highway.
I drove quickly on a road with no other cars or people around.
I chased the dawn
I endeavored to catch the moment when the sun comes up.
And cursed the new day,
I expressed frustration and anger towards the beginning of a new day.
Out of town, till nobody was around.
I left the city and drove far away until I was all alone.
Love came along, my favorite enemy,
I met someone I loved, but who also caused me pain and was difficult to deal with.
We hit head-on.
Our relationship collided in a forceful and intense way.
Why you befriended me... I don't know.
I am unsure why this person became my friend or lover.
There's no need for letting go
I feel no need to end the relationship, despite its difficulties.
When you've already lost control.
I have already lost control of the relationship and the emotions it brings out in me.
My life is open wide
I am living an unrestricted and uninhibited life.
The more you live, the less you will die.
Living fully makes life more meaningful and reduces the fear of death.
Outside, floating free,
I feel unbound and liberated from constraints.
I'm finally open to see...
I am now able to perceive more clearly.
Could you be any more comfort to me?
This person is a great source of comfort for me.
You've figured out the warnings
This person understands the potential hazards of my situation.
And the reasons why,
They comprehend the underlying causes and motivations behind my actions.
You smoothed me out.
This person has had a calming influence on me.
I hope you know there's nothing I could give,
I am unable to repay this person for their help and comfort.
For showing me how to live.
They have taught me important lessons about life.
I don't know how
I am uncertain about the outcome of this situation.
But you know just how I feel.
Despite my uncertainty, this person understands my emotions.
Sticking out,
I feel out of place or different.
Like a dark horse in a snow white field.
I am a rare or unexpected presence in a setting where I do not belong.
Stirred up by the breeze,
I am unsettled and affected by the changes around me.
Strong but not at peace,
I am resilient, but still struggling internally.
Free but unreleased.
I am free to move and act, but still feel held back or trapped by my situation.
Caught up inside, all I wanna be...
I am absorbed in my own desires and ambitions.
Try to survive, all alone,
I am struggling to survive without the support or help of others.
Outside your company.
I am outside the presence of this person who brings me comfort.
Could you be any more comfort to me?
I still hope that this person can provide even more comfort to me.
Could you be any more comfort to me?
I am asking once again for this person to offer more comfort to me.
Lyrics © BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC
Written by: BARRY THOMAS PRIVETT, CARTER GRAVATT, SCOTT ANDREW MILSTEAD, TERRELL H. CLARK
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Pat Streich
This is the song that reminds me of my husband, I play it on every playlist! Love Carbon Leaf! The music, on all albums... timeless!
Leslie Johnson
I've lost track of how many times I've repeated this song