“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
Mexico
Carbon Leaf Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
A palm tree swinging lazy in the breeze
Perhaps I looked away too many times
Just ignoring all the signs
Riding high on a temporary vibe
Life and love are messy most of the time
The ocean breeze, the palm trees and the sunshine
Excuses that a pair of eyes can't hide
Perhaps this paradise is my decline
Riding high on a temporary vibe
Life and love are messy most of the time
If we were sober, we would know that this is real
Beyond a feeling and I'd never let you go
If we were sober we would know that this is real
Beyond a feel, I should have never let you go down to Mexico
We could be drinkin' cheap tequila on the playa Esquinita
And it sure is good to see the sea again
We could be drinking cheap tequila on the playa Esquinita
And it sure is good to see the sea again
We both know what this could be or pretend that it's not happening
Float forever, take a trip with me
Live forever in a postcard where it lives and breathes in blue and green
And roaring up a gentle breeze
We're riding high on a temporary vibe
Life and love are messy most of the time
If we were sober, we would know that this is real
Beyond a feeling and I'd never let you go
If we were sober, we would know that this is real
Beyond a feel, I should have never let you go down to Mexico
We could be drinking cheap tequila on the playa Esquinita
And it sure is good to see the sea again
We should be drinking margaritas in a foreign Buena Vista
And it sure is good to see you once again
The song "Mexico" by Carbon Leaf tells a story of a traveler in search of something more in life. The lyrics suggest that the singer has been missing out on life's simple pleasures, represented by a palm tree swaying in the breeze. Perhaps the character has been caught up in the rat race of practical living, constantly ignoring the signs around him or her.
The chorus speaks to the idea of living in the moment, enjoying the temporary high, but also recognizing that life can be messy and complicated. The lyrics also touch on the idea that sometimes we need to be a little "unsober" to fully appreciate and experience the reality of life.
The song's verses tell the story of the singer's journey to Mexico, where he or she wants to experience life more fully. The lyrics suggest that the character is unsure of what this experience will bring but is willing to take the risk to find out. The chorus repetition assures that the feelings are real and will never let go of that bond.
Overall, "Mexico" is a song about taking risks and living in the moment. It speaks to the idea that sometimes, we need to step outside our comfort zones and take a chance on something unknown to truly experience and appreciate life.
Line by Line Meaning
Perhaps I've never tried that hard to see
Maybe I never really took the time to notice
A palm tree swinging lazy in the breeze
A relaxed palm tree sways in the wind
Perhaps I looked away too many times
Maybe I ignored it too many times
Just ignoring all the signs
Pretending like I didn't see the indications
Riding high on a temporary vibe
Being confident in a momentary feeling
Life and love are messy most of the time
Life and love can be complicated and difficult
Practical minds breeding practical lives, leave it all behind
Ordinary minds lead to ordinary lives, so let's escape it all
The ocean breeze, the palm trees and the sunshine
The beautiful combination of fresh air, swaying trees and warm sun
Excuses that a pair of eyes can't hide
Making excuses that are easily seen through
Perhaps this paradise is my decline
Maybe this perfect place is the downfall for me
If we were sober, we would know that this is real
If we weren't under the influence, we would see that what's happening is genuine
Beyond a feeling and I'd never let you go
More than just a sensation, I wouldn't want to lose you
We could be drinkin' cheap tequila on the playa Esquinita
We could be enjoying ourselves with inexpensive drinks on the beach
And it sure is good to see the sea again
It's great to be by the ocean once more
We both know what this could be or pretend that it's not happening
We're aware of the potential of this moment, but we can choose to ignore it
Float forever, take a trip with me
Stay forever in the blissful state with me
Live forever in a postcard where it lives and breathes in blue and green
Live in a perfect world of blue skies and greenery forever
And roaring up a gentle breeze
While a light wind rages in the background
We could be drinking margaritas in a foreign Buena Vista
We could be enjoying margaritas in a foreign town
And it sure is good to see you once again
It feels fantastic to see you again
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: MICHAEL CLARK, MICHAEL JAMES BRUCE CLARK
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
patt1001
C'mon everyone. Put this on your twitter and facebook. Deserves more than 244 views. Thanks for the upload!