Search - Carbon Leaf :: Meander

4.5 stars for CL's *Rocking* first album. Alternative, not

Éponine Thénardier | Charleston,SC/Northwest Indiana/Central IL | 11/13/2005

(4 out of 5 stars)

"I'm a big Carbon Leaf fan. They are amazing live, and none of their CDs (except 5 Alive, a live recording) come close to capturing the joy they exude onstage. I saw them open for Guster, and CL was Much Better than Guster. Check out the live video clips [...]



Of all their albums, this is their first, and consequently the roughest. The personnel on this album was a bit different, too. Barry was still the singer, but other people (person?) were in the band that have since moved on. It is clearly influenced by other music of that period -- which is not a bad thing, there was some great stuff during '97. So it rocks pretty hard, particularly on "Skeleton Man" and "Strain."



It still has the ever-present Carbon Leaf quality though. The lyrics are not as polished as the later albums (a merch gal for CL described it as: "Did you have a journal in sixth grade? Did you want anyone else to actually read that stuff? That's how Barry feels.") The lyrics aren't bad by any means, but it's not the profound poetry found on Echo Echo, Ethers, or the other albums. The harmonies aren't as fleshed out on Meander, nor is the balance as good. But oh, the melodies will get stuck in your head for a day or two at a time.



My favorite songs are "Kettle", "Shellfish", "One Day" (one of two songs -- the other is "Desperation Song"[Echo] that got me hooked on Carbon Leaf) and the first two songs are also addictive and likely to be put on repeat. But the latter two soundclips here lack the great choruses. Alas. And for some reason "Weirdhausguy" gets stuck in my head, although it is certainly weird.



I don't care so much for "Live like you", "Winter's Dream" or "Country Monkee." But there are cool moments in every song, so none of the songs are terrible. I mean, three of the songs on my "ultimate CL mix" are from this album. It's quality.



It's not as Celtic-influenced as the other albums, so CL fans used to later albums might be a bit shocked. It took me five listens or so to get to appreciate this album; I was disappointed at first.



Great driving music. Put on the cruise control or get pulled over by the cops for rocking out and flying down the expressway.



Check out my Shadows in the Banquet Hall review for a rundown on all the CL albums. Get hooked on them and see shows now before they come famous and you can no longer afford tickets. Heard "Life Less Ordinary"? That's Carbon Leaf, and they'll be hitting it big soon."