“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
Pink
Carbon Leaf Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
When she looks down, or too far away
She knows the pain in her side
Is just a mirage and mirages will fade
And somewhere begins, the mirage settles in
But the sky is like pink before violet
Cause everything's now, everything's now
As she puts on the ring
Her world turns to pink
So, she shows all her teeth when
She's taking the photos, she knows she has friends
She wants colors like these to
Remind her of being a young girl again
She quietly pleads, god just remove
Everything that the doctors don't see
Cause everything's now, everything's now
Please remove everything that's not me
And she puts on the ring
Her world turns to pink
She puts on the ring
Her world turns to pink
She puts on the ring (7x)
She puts on the ring...
The song "Pink" by Carbon Leaf is about a young girl who is dealing with a serious illness, and how she copes with it through the use of a pink ring. The girl experiences pain in her side, which she knows is just a mirage and will fade away eventually. The mirage is a metaphor for her illness - it's not real, but it's there and affecting her nonetheless. Despite the pain, she notices everything around her and becomes more aware of life and its beauty.
As the girl puts on the pink ring, her world turns into pink. The color pink is associated with happiness, love, and innocence, and represents a time in her life before she became ill - a time when she was carefree and young. The ring is a symbol of hope and strength, and reminds her to stay positive and focus on the good things in her life.
In the second verse, the girl is taking photos with her friends, and she wants the colors in the pictures to remind her of being young again. She quietly pleads to God to remove everything that the doctors don't see, which could be interpreted as her wishing to be cured of her illness. She wants to be free of anything that is not true to who she is, and hopes that putting on the pink ring will help her achieve that.
Line by Line Meaning
So, she catches herself
The singer is aware of her surroundings and emotional state.
When she looks down, or too far away
The singer tries to maintain focus and avoid distractions.
She knows the pain in her side
The singer is aware of her physical discomfort.
Is just a mirage and mirages will fade
The artist understands that her pain is temporary and will eventually pass.
And somewhere begins, the mirage settles in
The artist is beginning to accept her circumstances.
But the sky is like pink before violet
The singer sees beauty in the world despite her struggles.
Cause everything's now, everything's now
The singer is living in the present moment.
She notices everything
The artist is attentive to her surroundings.
As she puts on the ring
The artist is trying to find comfort in something tangible.
Her world turns to pink
Putting on the ring gives the artist a sense of calm and happiness.
So, she shows all her teeth when
The singer is putting on a brave face despite her struggles.
She's taking the photos, she knows she has friends
The artist finds solace in the support of her loved ones.
She wants colors like these to
The singer desires a return to a simpler, happier time in her life.
Remind her of being a young girl again
Nostalgia for a carefree time in the singer's life.
She quietly pleads, god just remove
The singer is going through a difficult time and is seeking divine intervention.
Everything that the doctors don't see
The artist feels like her struggles are being overlooked or misdiagnosed.
Cause everything's now, everything's now
The artist is still living in the present moment despite her struggles.
Please remove everything that's not me
The singer wishes to be in control of her own life and body.
She puts on the ring (7x)
Repetition of putting on the ring highlights its significance to the singer.
She puts on the ring...
The final repetition of putting on the ring signifies the end of the song and the artist's ongoing struggles.
Contributed by Blake D. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@Areala21
Simply stunning new version of what was already a beautiful song! I love you guys so much. :)