Monday, February 4, 2013

Album Review: The Carnival Kids–Skip and Frolic through fields of Audio Ecstasy

Music review by Joseph Timmons : Xombiewoof Magazine

Carnival Kids front art

NYC Indie Pop group The Carnival Kids has a hit with this album that has a richness and originality in a music scene that can be drenched in a “let’s all be different together” vibe. In an arena on consciousness where true individuality is lost among the trying to be popular and a groups reason to be is lost in the desire to be big, The Carnival Kids keeps the beat and has a creative and well composed inner child, which is brought out and exposed in a truth and vitality that could be envied.

Technically, the album is very well composed, mixed and is vibrant, energetic but not “pop-ish” and has an upbeat tempo that keeps it moving. This could be the best new indie album of this coming year. I especially liked the singer’s presence in the songs, not to far forward, giving the other elements of the music to shine through; backup vocals are harmonious to the measures of the richness and tone, overall well done. This group is easily in the same league as the Dave Mathews Band or Ben Folds Five, to be viewed as an independent force in their formative but fast evolving state. Influenced by groups such as the Beatles, Bob Dylan, Paul Simon, Elvis Costello, Pink Floyd, and more, they have a great grasp on what sounds good. The music is natural, not over mixed or produced with an over polished feel, very “live and direct”.

 

The Carnival Kids

I found the songs did have a serious to them; some titles had a very deep message and need to be listened to fully grasp their importance. I have found some bands take themselves either too seriously lyrically and draw the listener down into whatever self-assuring therapy moment the vocalist may be having, or to the contrary, never take the time to address topics that are topical and have a social significance. The Carnival Kids, to me, seem to take things in an order of importance on this album, weaving a story in song, and this album, which could have easily been 2 albums, is a multi-track score to a life story worth a stage performance, a life musical for a musical life.

This album is fantastic, and should be in every collection as a tree house belongs in every yard and every child deserves an ice cream on a Sunday morning, The Carnival Kids show a definitive promise, and I find they have a great natural talent, from a group so young, they have a musical maturity of session musicians well beyond their years.

I will be keeping in touch with this band and follow their progress, definitely ones to watch for in the coming year, I think they would be a great group to see live. This is the self-titled debut album and available on band camp, sound cloud and the band can be found on Facebook. Links to their Video site on YouTube will also be found below.

https://soundcloud.com/the-carnival-kids-music

http://thecarnivalkids.bandcamp.com

http://www.youtube.com/TheCarnivalKidsMusic

https://www.facebook.com/TheCarnivalKidsMusic


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