“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
Grey Sky Eyes
Carbon Leaf Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Where is the girl behind the cloud?
Grey sky, always floating by
But I only peek when I'm allowed
You welcome me in
And your veil is so thin
But the mystery continues to grow
That my grey sky eyes
Neither rain, nor they glow... now you know
So I'll try to not act so surprised
I'll feel my way, I'll underplay
All my curiosity and hide
All the questions in my skin
You welcome me in
And your veil is so thin
But the mystery continues to grow
You say you must realize
That my grey sky eyes
Neither rain, nor they glow... now you know
They neither rain nor they glow... now you know
Grey Sky, I think I changed my mind
I find no need to pretend
Grey Sky, would you allow me to be
So into you, my friend?
Could you welcome me in
With your veil that's so thin
As the the mystery continues to grow?
You say you must realize
That my grey sky eyes
Neither rain, nor they glow... now you know
They neither rain nor they glow... now you know
They neither rain nor they glow... now you know
In Carbon Leaf's song "Grey Sky Eyes," the singer is addressing someone whose identity isn't revealed but whose eyes always seem to reflect the grey sky. At one point the singer asks, "Where is the girl behind the cloud?" implying that this person, represented by the grey sky, is hiding something or isn't fully revealing themselves. Despite this mystery, the singer seems drawn to the person with the grey sky eyes, stating "Grey Sky, would you allow me to be / So into you, my friend?"
The singer seems to be struggling with their own curiosity and desire to know more about the person. They state that they will "feel [their] way" and "underplay all [their] curiosity" in order to keep the person comfortable and not scare them away. The repeated line "You welcome me in / And your veil is so thin" suggests that the person with grey sky eyes is allowing the singer to get closer but is still holding something back.
Overall, "Grey Sky Eyes" is a song about attraction and the complexities of trying to get to know someone who is guarded or mysterious. The grey sky eyes represent a kind of emotional barrier, but the singer is willing to take the risk and push through it to potentially find a deeper connection with this person.
Line by Line Meaning
Grey sky, always in your eye
You are always shrouded in sadness and negativity.
Where is the girl behind the cloud?
I wonder what is causing this gloominess in you.
Grey sky, always floating by
Your sadness always seems to be present, hovering over you.
But I only peek when I'm allowed
I want to understand your situation, but I can only get a glimpse when you allow me to.
You welcome me in
You let me be a part of your life.
And your veil is so thin
Your sadness is ever-present, but not completely transparent.
But the mystery continues to grow
Despite getting closer, there is no explanation or resolution to your sadness.
You say you must realize
You want me to understand.
That my grey sky eyes
My understanding, much like the sky, is blank and expressionless.
Neither rain, nor they glow... now you know
I am incapable of brightening up your life, nor can I provide any kind of relief.
So I'll try to not act so surprised
I'll try to be accepting and not let my disappointment show.
I'll feel my way, I'll underplay
I'll tread carefully and avoid drawing attention to myself.
All my curiosity and hide
I'll suppress my inquisitive nature and keep things to myself.
Grey Sky, I think I changed my mind
I want to change my perception of you.
I find no need to pretend
I don't want to make false assumptions anymore.
Grey Sky, would you allow me to be
Can we move beyond your sadness and connect on a deeper level?
So into you, my friend?
I want to be there for you, regardless of what you're going through.
They neither rain nor they glow... now you know
I'm still unable to do anything to improve your situation.
Lyrics © BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC
Written by: BARRY THOMAS PRIVETT, CARTER GRAVATT, SCOTT ANDREW MILSTEAD, TERRELL H. CLARK
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind