Operating in the indie-rock scene for over three decades (no small feat!), Carbon Leaf has rightfully become a trailblazing veteran with their industrious existence. Take, for instance, their latest album "Time is the Playground"— our subject for today's article— is their fifteenth one, arriving a decade after the previous LP. They have captured the recognizable trademarks that turned them into a national phenomenon in the first place, although more seasoned and reflective (as the title hints) in their bearings. We had the pleasure to listen before its release day, and here's a gathering of our thoughts on it.
For those who perhaps aren't acquainted, Carbon Leaf is a quintet that originated from Virginia; a rock band that was initiated in college way back in 1992 would eventually become a prominent mainstay in the revolution of indie and alt-rock through the decade, with the "The Boxer" (from their 2001 album 'Echo Echo') serving as the pivotal hit, subsequently taking home the accolade of the New Music award in AMAs the same year. This cemented the quintet's status in the industry, the aftermath of which saw them release several singles and albums in the following years. They wholeheartedly stayed true to the roots, treading the fine line between alt-rock and Americana/folk with authentic songwriting being one of their distinguishing elements.
Since their inception, music has altered in leaps and bounds, which led to becoming a concern for the band, as worded by its frontman Barry Privett ("Everybody says people listen to albums anymore....the challenge for us was to make something that felt good...like a story"). Indeed, "Time is the Playground" comes off as a retrospective endeavor— almost acting as a watershed moment encapsulating the band's feelings and experiences so far in their journey (further evident as they reworked and finished demos created in the last 15 years).
The titular track opens the door to this album, idealistic and glass-half-full attitude prominent from the breezy acoustic-heavy alt-rock composition. The vocals are unabashedly nostalgic, almost painting a rose-tinted view of the halcyon times. This very much extends to "Backmask 1983" which harkens to the peak days of arena rock (from the likes of AC/DC), pumping percussions and melodic synths included. The fourth track "Love for Sale" is particularly romantic, including dreamy synth riffs and a rushing ensemble. Albeit, it's in "Me and Mick" where the band really outshines; its getup of iridescent guitars and reassuring vocals project a severely bittersweet and heartfelt ambiance; this is a crowning moment for the album, in our opinion.
What follows thereafter is further meditative and maybe (a shade more than we expected initially), as demonstrated in "City by the Sea" and "Call Ahead," pacing slower from the considerably uptempo first half. Still, listeners are rewarded with melodic guitar riffs and evocative lyrics: In "California Gold," they delve more into roots Americana rock with the resonating, buzzy guitars that seep into its succeeding tune "Pretending." The conclusion finally snaps back with "Neon Signs," a vibrant rock tune with arpeggiating and hypnotic guitar riffs paired with lashing drums, this finale is a rewarding closure, glued together by the introspective vocals emphasizing the fleeting yet memorable moments that we call life.
Undoubtedly, "Time is the Playground" has multiple high points proving Carbon Leaf's versatility with other styles (such as 80s rock), although not completely invulnerable to losing some steam when alternating between its dynamic numbers and overtly ruminative ones. Nevertheless, their commitment to experimenting with sonics is commendable here, all the while remaining dedicated to captivating listeners with earnest and down-to-earth songwriting.
Listen to "Time is the Playground" on Spotify and stay tuned with Carbon Leaf and their upcoming projects on Instagram.
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