Marc Carroll

Posted in Dust Of Rumour - reviews on 20/10/2010

Dust Of Rumour

Uncut (4 stars)

Fine fourth album from Irish singer-songwriter. Uncut's intro to Carroll came when his cover of "Gates Of Eden" was personally approved by Dylan with a download on the great man's official website. For the follow up to 2005's splendid World On A Wire, the only discernible Dylan influence is the rugged voice. Musically, Carroll's Byrds-like guitar jangle and Beach Boys harmonies are heard most effectively on the soaring 'Now Or Never' and 'What's Left Of My Heart', delivered with a shiny pop brio reminiscent of Teenage Fanclub."

Posted in Dust Of Rumour - reviews on 20/10/2010

Dust Of Rumour

Mojo (4 Stars)

A third album to admire from the talented Dubliner.

Marc Carroll is something special. Mojo has rightly hailed the Irish singer-songwriter's previous albums and Dust Of Rumour confirms that he's a performer in for the long term - one capable of consistently piecing together songs that ease into the memory. Here, the multi tracked harmonies comes as shimmering as ever, delivered in a manner that turned Brian wilson into an instant fan, immediately inviting Carroll to his birthday party in order that he could personally deliver his appreciation. But the vocals are only part of the deal. They come wrapped in powerpop guitar sounds redolent of Big Star or the Rasberries. Then, just as you think you have the music sussed, Carroll surprises with a fragile, string draped wonder like Going Home, closing an engaging record deserving of a wider audience than Carroll has yet to manage to attract.

Posted in Dust Of Rumour - reviews on 20/10/2010

Dust Of Rumour

The Mirror (UK) 5 Stars

This excellent, Dublin-bred troubadour, now based in LA, has won plaudits from Bob Dylan and Brian Wilson since the release of his striking 2003 debut Ten Of Swords. Blending reverberating songs of the soul, hard haunted Celtic odysseys and his raw intimate vocals, Marc's third album shows the respect of legends is well deserved.

Posted in Dust Of Rumour - reviews on 20/10/2010

Dust Of Rumour

The Times (UK)

In a blind test, you’d swear the jingle-jangle of Love Will Rule Our Hearts — the opening song of Marc Carroll’s third solo album — was born in California. You’d be right about the song, though not about its Irish creator, now resident in LA. Carroll’s roots reveal themselves on the earthy acoustic balladeering of Against My Will. Pretty as it is, it’s only when he uncages his inner Byrd — most sublimely on You Just Might Be What I’ve Been Waiting For— that the goosebumps surge up your spine.

Posted in Dust Of Rumour - reviews on 20/10/2010

Dust Of Rumour

The Irish Times (4 Stars)

Dubliner Marc Carroll has been ploughing his own furrow for more than 10 years to very little public recognition or commercial acceptance, yet he continues with his perfect distillation of Irish folk idioms within a notably American pop/punk format. Now based in Los Angeles (after an extended period in London), Carroll releases Dust of Rumour on his own label (following some years of being courted and then disowned by various major labels). It is a record of sweet liberty, beautiful melodies and superbly crafted songs that hint at emotional loss and glass-half- empty sentiments, but with a joyous mix of lilting airs and guitar jingle-jangle that tumble from each song. Another great record from a guy who remains one of Ireland’s virtually lost yet truly great songwriters.

Posted in Dust Of Rumour - reviews on 20/10/2010

Dust Of Rumour

The Sunday Mail (UK, 4 Stars)

Carroll's fourth album and he just keeps sounding better and better. Opener Love Will Rule Our Hearts has a rockier feel that grabs your attention from the off. A late 60s rock feel reminds of The Byrds. Well worth a listen

Posted in Dust Of Rumour - reviews on 20/10/2010

Dust Of Rumour

The Sunday Express, (UK, 4 Stars)

Jangly guitars in all the right places, testimonials from none other than Brian Wilson and Bob Dylan, the Dublin singer-songwriter should be bigger than he is. This is his fourth and best album to date, and while it's predominantly assured Americana - he's now upped sticks to Los Angeles - he doesn't forget his Celtic roots on tracks like Against My Will and Going Home.

Posted in Dust Of Rumour - reviews on 20/10/2010

Dust Of Rumour

Classic Rock

Marc Carroll is Irish, but has lived in America for several years. So, it’s no surprise that Dust Of Rumour (High Noon) indicates inspirations from Neil Young, Bob Dylan, Jeff Buckley and The Byrds. He writes beguilingly creative songs.

Posted in Dust Of Rumour - reviews on 20/10/2010

Dust Of Rumour

Record Of The Day

Marc Carroll released his fourth album Dust Of Rumour during the summer to widespread positive reviews in the monthly music magazines and the wider daily press too. Judging by some of the quotes it's a low-key contender for many critics' end of year. With a mixture of edgy, if sunny, folk/punk rock’n’roll and ringing up The Byrds' jangly guitar sound, it's quality like this that have the critics excited.

Posted in Dust Of Rumour - reviews on 20/10/2010

Dust Of Rumour

Q Magazine

A gifted songwriter and a throwback to the golden age of West Coast rock, his third solo album is steeped in late-‘60s Americana, strongly referencing the ringing guitars of The Byrds on Now or Never and the Beach Boys on Always. As such, it’s only the folksy Against My Will that gives away his Irish heritage

Posted in Dust Of Rumour - reviews on 20/10/2010

Dust Of Rumour

The Big Issue

Irishman Carroll's path has taken him from Dublin to London and back, then onto America and Los Angeles, where this collection of big melodic songs, his 4th album was recorded. The sheer quality and delivery should see off lesser talents.

Posted in Dust Of Rumour - reviews on 20/10/2010

Dust Of Rumour

Folk Roundabout

The Dublin singer-songwriter’s latest offering presents a heady 32 minutes of music (eight new songs and two instrumental pieces). It starts out with two tracks’ worth of typically burnished, jangle-ridden 12-string folk-rock, thereby continuing in the tradition Marc originally established with his fine 2003 album Ten Of Swords; Now Or Never in particular could easily pass for a lost Byrds number. The chiming, ringing Always then quietens the pulse a bit, after which Marc springs some further textural surprises with the darker, moodier Against My Will, where a string arrangement is pitted against a rugged vocal delivery that’s even more McGuinn-like in its folky intensity. As the album progresses, it becomes ever more apparent that Marc’s writing has in the intervening years since Ten Of Swords developed an even sharper focus, taking on a more thoughtful and philosophical demeanour generally. The powerful tread of the heavy, gruffly Dylanesque What’s Left Of My Heart, a melancholy anthem with touches of hammering Bunnymen rhythms and pulsing electric guitars, is addictive and makes for another standout, whereas the elusive, dreamlike Illusion And I forms a kind of spacey cosmic prelude to the catchy Petty-like rock of You Just Might Be What I’m Waiting For. The pounding upbeats of A Dark And Lucky Night signal the close of a brave and belated return to recording for Marc, a totally self-sufficient triumph which ought by rights to bring him considerable acclaim.

Posted in Dust Of Rumour - reviews on 20/10/2010

Dust Of Rumour

MusicOMH (4 Stars)

The supermarket record buyer's loss is the music lover's gain, because the Dublin-born Carroll just keeps getting better and better. Dust Of Rumour is his fourth album and eclipses such previous gems as Ten Of Swords (2003) and World On A Wire (2005).

Written in Los Angeles, Carroll's new home, but recorded in the UK with engineer Adi Winman and mixer Graham Sutton (vital cogs in the Irishman's sound), Dust Of Rumour is shot through with the kind of wide-eyed optimism that America instils in young songwriters. Carroll once again handles most instrumental duties, save the odd string section here and there, and like its predecessors the album has a cohesive sense of purpose.

Carroll has injected a rockier element into his songs this time around, characterised by the strident opener Love Will Rule Our Hearts. Clocking in at a brief two minutes, the addictive guitar riff is driven home by a marching rhythm that never lets up. The lyrics don't say a lot beyond the sentiments of the title, but it's an atmospheric opening that gets the listener on their toes right away.

The default sound on Dust Of Rumour is late '60s folk rock à la The Byrds, and Now Or Never and You Just Might Be What I've Been Waiting For are glorious pastiches replete with chiming guitars and stacked vocal harmonies. Both tracks sounds like lost outtakes from Teenage Fanclub's Songs From Northern Britain. Yes folks, that good.

Of course, Carroll was famously championed by Bob Dylan and at times on Dust Of Rumour you could swear the old goat has stolen into the studio to provide guest lead vocals. The vocals on the string-laden pop of Always and What's Left Of My Heart have the gravelly charm of late-period Dylan, and although there is an element of hero worship the melodies and lyrics on both tracks more than compensate.

Pleasingly, a vestige of Carroll's Irish folk roots remains in place. Arguably the best track on the album is Against My Will, which is rooted in the sea shanty tradition with some gorgeous strings lifting the song into Celtic nirvana. Elsewhere, the instrumentals The Boy Who Dreamed and Going Home sound like Van Morrison circa Inarticulate Speech Of The Heart, all Celtic atmospherics and misty-eyed strings.

The wistful Illusion And I is a cosmic meander that hints at a future direction if Carroll ever tires of his McGuinn/Dylan fixation, while the closing A Dark And Lucky Night is a balls to the wall anthem that summons up the spirit of Mike Scott in his 'Big Music' phase.

Free of any major label constraints, Marc Carroll has responded with the best album of his short career. Anyone who seriously loves music should repay the man and buy Dust Of Rumour.

Posted in Dust Of Rumour - reviews on 20/10/2010

Dust Of Rumour

Americana, UK (9/10)

Whilst hugely influenced by the Byrds it was apparent that Carroll was a talented songwriter. Since then I have watched his career from the glowing critical reviews of ‘World On A Wire’ through to his latest release, I had feared the worst that Marc had dropped into obscurity – I’m pleased to report that his new record is yet further evidence that he still has the ability and energy to produce superb music. After a four year break he is back with this stunning collection of ten new songs, which starts off with the catchy & glorious ‘Love Will Rule Our Hearts’, next up is the Byrds-influenced chiming guitars of ‘Now Or Never’, Gene Clark would be a proud owner of this song, it’s that good. He shows that despite some career setbacks his song writing is sharp as ever on the superb ‘Always’ - one of the many stand out songs. Even better is the instrumental ‘The Boy Who Dreamed’ which moves into the best track on the record ‘Illusion and I’. Vocally & lyrically we find Carroll at the top of his game. The record closes on a thoughtful note the instrumental ‘Going Home’ with its Beach Boys harmonies and the upbeat ‘A Dark & Lucky Night’. Will this record break him to a bigger audience? Who knows, but songs of this calibre deserve to be heard.

Posted in Dust Of Rumour - reviews on 20/10/2010

Dust Of Rumour

Powerpop Overdose

The excellent Irish songwriter and musician Marc Carroll after the diversion of his last Dylanesque last album, has returned to the pop field once more on his strikingly excellent Dust Of Rumour. While his debut was effortlessly power pop, for this latest album he’s added an extra sixties shimmer that is probably due to hanging out with The Quarter After in LA half the year. He plays nearly everything on this fine inventive album and is a dab hand at writing one great song after another so how can this album be anything other than a great listen.

Posted in Dust Of Rumour - reviews on 20/10/2010

Dust Of Rumour

NetRhytms

While those wanting more of the ringing Byrdsian Rickenbacker folk rock that characterised Ten Of Swords won’t be disappointed by the Dublin singer-songwriter’s latest, it does find him exploring lands far beyond the familiar, often with a much darker palette. So, where Now Or Never could have stepped straight out of the classic McGuinn catalogue, the opening Love Will Rule Our Hearts has a more strident marching rhythm and rockier muscle carrying his burred vocals forwards while A Dark And Lucky Night summons the more anthemically melancholic side of Mike Scott, one of two instrumentals Going Home is a brief excursion into orchestral Celtic mist and Illusion And I a blissful cosmic drift across the twinkling night sky on Brian Wilson vapour trails.

However, it’s inevitably going to be the Dylan/McGuinn axis that will pin back most ears, and few capture the sound and spirit as well as Carroll. Now Or Never may be the high water mark, but it’s only a cat’s whisker distance between that, the gravelly voiced What’s Left Of My Heart and the jangling You Just Might Be What I’ve Been Waiting For while Against My Will could be an Irish veined shanty that stowed away aboard McGuinn’s Cardiff Rose. It’s taken him for years and various label hiccups to get this self-released and virtually entirely self-played album out into the world. It would be nice to think the world would show its appreciation.

Posted in Dust Of Rumour - reviews on 20/10/2010

Dust Of Rumour

Allgigs.co.uk (5 Stars)

Stood standing preparing a hearty chicken casserole, for my sweet who's due home soon, on a bitter day in north Wales (yep, it's trying to snow again!), there's a CD playing on my lappy (laptop).

The music is as hearty as the smell wafting from the oven. I'm distracted (gladly) by this wonderfully sounding album by Marc Carroll.

I've just looked at the CD package, and I find that after the tracklisting it reads, 'Written and played by Marc Carroll'. That sounds impressive, but not quite accurate. There are 6 contributing musicians.

The album was released last year, but is still more than worthy of a mention now. On February 22, Carroll, belatedly in my opinion, released the single 'What's Left Of My Heart', and if picked up by music-centric stations, it could be a monster.

This amazingly talented Dublin-born singer-songwriter has all the qualities of say Bob Dylan and past masters from 60s/ 70s folk rock. Carroll first surfaced as a musician with Puppy Love Bomb and later with The Hormones. Neither did that well. Then, ten years ago he went solo, and his debut 'Ten Of Swords' was critically acclaimed by many in the music press.

The key to world music domination has always been a sharp emphasis on melody. Even Led Zeppelin et al had that knack of gripping you with great melodies, even if they occasionally went off at tangents. Oh, and even those rather famous four lads from Liverpool. They had it nailed.

Carroll's forte, in addition to said melody, are some truly spell-binding catchy tunes, many of which are radio-friendly.

Inevitably, due to his roots, there's a Celtic patina splattered across the 10 songs, but he still manages to retain enough indie sensibilities to attract the student brigade, much like the Saw Doctors and The Waterboys. This is the sort of album (no offence fellas) that the gals will absolutely love, but make no mistake, there's nothing sugar - coated here.

If you're a Byrds fan, with all those jangly guitars, then look no further than track 2, 'Now Or Never' with it's sweeping chorus and harmonies, enough to even impress The Byrds themselves.

The album opens with a thrusting riff and harmonies a la Crosby Stills Nash & Young, giving a nod to 60's classic country rock, boosted by twanging guitar licks.

'Against My Will' turns out to be a heartfelt song with sweeping string arrangements and wouldn't go amiss on a Christy Moore or Luka Bloom album, such is the quality.

He hits the Dylan-like button on the nasaled wanderings on the divine 'What's Left Of My Heart', the new single, with the jangly bits going into overdrive, laced with rolling Hammond organ.

'Illusion And I' opens with sweeping strings giving it a celestial feel while Carroll hushes cutely over the dream-like state, and it's quite a profound piece of music.

Once again, 'You Just Might Be...' is full-on Byrds but lacks a killer chorus.

There are two gorgeous short instrumentals - 'The Boy Who Dreamed' and 'Going Home', with later being a lament drenched with melancholic strings.

Closer, 'A Dark And Lucky Night' bookends a stunning album, ending like started, on an up-tempo rush of Celtic-tinged wizardry.

Carroll isn't just about creating good music though. Like many of his fellow countrymen, he's great with words. 'What's Left Of My Heart' is a classic example -" Stars descend and assemble and circle around her / Echoes of thunderous rage gently surrounds her / And sadly I, all I can do is stand aside / And bless the day I found her."

The verdict - Go buy..NOW!

Posted in Dust Of Rumour - reviews on 20/10/2010

Dust Of Rumour

(Critical Mob)

Though he released his very first solo single in 1989, it wasn't until 2002 that Irish singer-songwriter Marc Carroll finally unleashed his cult-favorite debut album,Ten of Swords, emerging as one of Ireland's secret weapons of power pop. Seven years down the line, the Dubliner's Dust of Rumour album is not without its share of sparkling power-pop moments, all frothy choruses and hook-laden melodies whose glow masks the melancholy of the lyrics. But the most notable thing about this outing might be its stylistic expansion. To wit, "What's Left Of My Heart" sounds like it could have come off a latter-day Bob Dylan album, while the moody, minor-key "Against My Will" bears a strong whiff of UK folk, and the guitar-centered instrumental "The Boy Who Dreamed" suggests a summit meeting between Durutti Column and Dif Juz. Sometimes the candy-colored realm of power-pop can end up being a musical cage, and Carroll should be commended for being able to reach outside of that sphere without abandoning it.

Posted in Dust Of Rumour - reviews on 20/10/2010

Dust Of Rumour

The Press, 4 Stars

JUST as last year was crammed to the CD racks with the solo female, maybe the plectrum is in the other digit. Earlier this year, I had the pleasure of reviewing Yusuf Islam’s newest release. Now here’s Marc Carroll, a rookie as opposed to Yusuf, the artist formerly known as Cat Stevens, but possessing equal musical deftness. Carroll’s record displays even greater variety. All ten tracks are self-penned, he plays all the instruments and he commands every dubbed or freeform vocal with a breathy, yet weighty assurance. Previous Carroll albums have pricked the ears of no less than head Beach Boy Brian Wilson. Such patronage is not undeserved. Whether rattling through vibrant tracks like Love Will Rule Our Hearts and A Dark And Lucky Night, or in more ruminative mood on Now Or Never, complete with jangly Byrds guitar break, it’s no rumour – Carroll is a class act.

Posted in Dust Of Rumour - reviews on 20/05/2011

Dust Of Rumour

Last Broadcast

Being named checked by Bob Dylan is a long way from working the shop floor of British Home Stores, but this is the journey that Ireland-born, Los Angeles-based singer-songwriter Marc Carroll has undertaken over the past few years. 'Dust Of Rumour' follows two critically acclaimed albums. The album itself is a magpie collection that defies easy categorisation, for Carroll is an artist who isn’t afraid to wear his influences on his sleeve - and on this evidence he has a varied palette. The opener, 'Love Will Rule Our Hearts', sounds like a more muscular Thrills. 'Now Or Never' and 'You Just Might Be What I’ve Been Waiting For' possess the jangly guitar figures, sugar rush melody and sunny vocal harmonies of vintage Teenage Fanclub. With 'Dust Of Rumour', Carroll has produced a highly competent album.

Posted in Dust Of Rumour - reviews on 20/10/2010

Dust Of Rumour

The Crack

This Dubliner is now based in Los Angeles and there’s definitely a transatlantic feel to this, his fourth album, which is a wide-screen, melodious delight. This is basically timeless songwriting with the sunshine streaming through these tunes just like the first morning of your holiday. Those Irish roots are still allowed to break through too, calling to mind those other Celtic lovers of that West coast sound, Teenage Fanclub.

Posted in Dust Of Rumour - reviews on 20/05/2011

Dust Of Rumour

Music Fix

A seriously talented man, so little wonder then that he’s never cracked the big time in an industry built upon image and hype. Dust of Rumour is his fourth album in 10 years and it doesn’t disappoint.

Posted in Dust Of Rumour - reviews on 20/05/2011

DUST OF RUMOUR

The Daily Echo (UK, 4 Stars)

If that good songs and character-full singing were enough to guarantee an audience with the public at large, Marc Carroll would surely be well on his way to omnipotence by now. Sadly, they don’t so we’re left with an album that you know people would love – provided they get to hear it. Steeped in qualities like good tunes, strong melodies and a distinctive voice, Dublin boy-come-LA resident, Carroll gives it his all both on jangling, 60s-tinged sing-outs like Now or Never, the anthemic Love Will Rule Our Hearts, or the more intimate, folk-flavoured offerings like the aching Against My Will. If a blend of Roger McGuinn, Alex Chilton, and Tom Petty gets you going, then go here.

Posted in Dust Of Rumour - reviews on 20/05/2011

DUST OF RUMOUR

Komodo (4 Stars)
The Bob Dylan approved solo artist returns with an album crammed full of calming atmosphere and Beach Boy meets Stone Roses style harmonies.

The lead single 'Always' helps sum up most of the album, its union of curling musical ideas pulls you in but never outstays its welcome. On 'Illusion and I', haunting keyboards carries the track gently over a sea of melodies, leaving the guitar and vocals to take a back seat.

'You just might be what i've been waiting for' is a more straight-forward and raw affair complete with catchy chorus. This is followed by instrumental 'Going home'. 'A dark and lucky night' ends the album, sounding like a soundtrack for the day dreaming kid who spends his entire journey staring blankly out of the car window, the lines in the middle of the road signifying the mesmerising, drifty pace of the track.

Most of 'Dust of Rumour' is so chilled it just may be the closest you will get to falling through clowds. If you lay back, relax and hear this it could be one of the listens of the year.