Marc Carroll

Posted in Ten Of Swords - reviews on 20/10/2010

Ten Of Swords

Mojo

Marc Carroll - Ten Of Swords (Evangeline).

Solo debut from acclaimed Irish folk-rocker

Crafting this engaging outing entirely on his lonesome, with a soul full of Simon & Garfunkel, The Byrds and some would say The Buzzcocks, his songs are extraordinarily easy on the ear. This is both good and bad because many will assume songs as sweetly chiming as Crashpad Number or as soothing as the close harmony gem Silent And Blind are merely easy listening retro-pastiches. On closer inspection, Carroll's lyrics are clearly the product of an interesting life, always suggesting fascinating situations without ever making them clear. Carroll could become a big fish in the small pond of intelligent British singer-songwriters or go to Nashville and become a millionaire.

Posted in Ten Of Swords - reviews on 20/10/2010

Ten Of Swords

Uncut (4 Stars)

Pick of the crop is Irish man Marc Carroll's debut, an ambitious distillation of wonky 1960's; whimsy (Kinks, Traffic, Floyd) and Trippy psychedelia (`You Saved My Life` is pre-glam Bolan chomping down the fattest mushroom), Just when you expect the canter of unicorn hooves, he throws up the pile driving fuzz pop curveball `Weird Dreams`.

Posted in Ten Of Swords - reviews on 20/10/2010

Ten Of Swords

The Village Voice, New York

Named for an infamous Bob Dylan bootleg and probably not the card in the tarot deck - Ten of Swords is the most recent from acclaimed Irish folk-rocker Marc Carroll. He's talented and commercial enough to break big in the US - there's a hell of a lot more substance here than say David Gray or Pete Yorn - his songs sound like a singer-songwriter version of the Byrds and at times a jacked-up Wilco.

Posted in Ten Of Swords - reviews on 20/10/2010

Ten Of Swords

The Times (UK) (3 stars)

Marc Carroll Ten of Swords (Evangeline). A feisty Irishman who has spent his adult life shuffling be-tween London and Dublin, he has a reverence for Bob Dylan but sounds more like Roger McGuinn on the jangling 12-string Rickenbacker pop of the album's opening track, Crashpad Number. The intricate vocal harmonies on You Saved My Life (Again Last Night) indicate the influence of another 1960's hero, Brian Wilson and the new single, Mrs Lullaby, is old-school pop of a high order.

Posted in Ten Of Swords - reviews on 20/10/2010

Ten Of Swords

Daily Mirror (UK)

"TEN OF SWORDS" ****
"Named after a celebrated Bob Dylan bootleg, this debut album was almost entirely played, sung and composed by Carroll, a pop auteur in the Todd Rundgren mould. The influences from Hank Williams to The Velvets - could over-whelm but trenchant songwriting puts them to good use. Very sharp."

Posted in Ten Of Swords - reviews on 20/10/2010

Ten Of Swords

The Telegraph (UK)

Dublin born Marc Carroll is a classic pop obsessive with a knack for combining Dylanesque verbosity with crisply punky arrangements. He's one of those sickeningly talented multi-instrumentalists who make those of us who can barely master the tambourine bristle with jealousy. Every sound you hear was played and sung by him. This is impressive.

Posted in Ten Of Swords - reviews on 20/10/2010

Ten Of Swords

The Independent (UK) Saturday Edition

With influences ranging from country to The Kinks, this is a solid debut from a fine Dublin based songwriter, Most of all, it recalls great powerpop balladeers like Matthew Sweet, with an added touch of psychedelic wooziness and, on one track, echoes of Hank Williams. Lyrical nous and a handful of up-tempo, toe-tappers round it off well.

Posted in Ten Of Swords - reviews on 20/10/2010

Ten Of Swords

The Independent (UK)

Marc Carroll : Ten Of Swords (Evangeline)
The sleeve design - a parody of a 10 Disc Dylan bootleg of the same title, serves due notice of the young Irish songwriter Marc Carroll's ambition, but is an unreliable guide to his style. For while the opening `Crashpad Number` Deftly apes the harmonies and jangly Rickenbacker arpeggios of The Byrds, There are actually few songs on this compact 11 track album that merit the description `Dylanesque`. In fact Carroll's have a much broader sweep, which places him closer to the likes of Brian Wilson and Todd Rundgren. Like them, he has the vision to perceive the larger musical picture, and like Rundgren at least, the ability to realise that picture virtually without outside assistance, through laborious overdubbing of all the instruments on all but a few of these tracks, with his vocal harmonies likewise layered in grand cascades atop the arrangements. He can turn his hands to several different modes from The Wilco - style `You Saved My Life (Again Last Night)` to the English psychedelic throwback of `Mrs Lullaby` and the trancey, trip hop feedback drones of `In Silence`.

Posted in Ten Of Swords - reviews on 20/10/2010

Ten Of Swords

The Independent (Ireland)

Marc Carroll - Ten Of Swords (Evangeline) ****

Dubliner Marc Carroll brings persistence to new levels. His dealings with the record industry are fast becoming the stuff of legend. He's found an English Indie label to take on Ten Of Swords and thank goodness for that. From The Byrds inspired opener Crashpad Number through to a traditional rendition of the dark folk classic Satan, Your Kingdom Must Come Down, Carroll delivers a wide range of musical goods with palpable passion. There's a new wave feel and urgent buzzy guitars on songs like Idiot World (which once featured as the backing track on the BBC's `Football Focus`), and Weird Dreams. Swangsong and You Saved My Life (Again Last Night) are simple 60's sounding hum alongs.

Posted in Ten Of Swords - reviews on 20/10/2010

Ten Of Swords

Irish Times

Dubliner Marc Carroll has been around the blocks more times than Sonia O`Sullivan and it's one of life's many mysteries and crying shames that he hasn't to date graduated above cult status. While his fans and quiet champions will no doubt offer this excellent record as further proof of Carroll's focused genius, the realists among us will probably still be playing the There's no justice for some time to come. Power pop punk songs as sublime as `Crashpad Number` , `Mrs Lullaby`, `Idiot World`, `Falling Into Nowhere` and `You Saved My Life (Again Last Night)` add fuel to the argument that Carroll is up there with the great songwriters - structurally he just doesn't put a foot wrong. The inclusion however of the trad/arr `Row The Boat Ashore` is a serious error - excuse this one and you've got yourself a near classic.

Posted in Ten Of Swords - reviews on 20/10/2010

Ten Of Swords

Careless Talk Costs Lives

One of my criteria for judging the greatness of pop it its ability to accompany bicycle rides. This passed with bugs in its teeth. There are a whole host of memorable tunes : Opening single `Crashpad Number` with it's ringing McGuinn-esque guitars and nod to `Manic Monday`; `Mrs Lullaby` who `Does tricks for a pound`, and which ushers in ghostly memories of The Jam at their pop best; `Idiot World` coming on like Velvet Crush with a lost classic from the mighty `In The Pressence Of Greatness`. It's not all rocking out though, songs like the gorgeous `Silent And Blind`, the country picking of `Falling Into Nowhere` and `Terror And Tired Eyes` are restrained moments of beauty, with melodies you want to hum all day long. With `Ten Of Swords` Carroll has made a marvellous fusion of folk, country, rock and pop, and it deserves to be huge.

Posted in Ten Of Swords - reviews on 20/10/2010

Ten Of Swords

Bucketfull Of Brains

Marc Carroll - Ten Of Swords (Evangeline).
Housed in a mock Trade Mark Of Quality boot package, Marc's first solo outing is further confirmation of the talent that drove the wonderful Hormones a few years back. The album is a mix of classic pop gems and more introspective material. It's mostly a happy merger but i have got to declare a preference for the hook filled uptempo numbers such as the instantly gratifying opening track `Crashpad Number` with its ringing 12 strings and velvety background vocals. Some of the slower tracks demand a bit more patience as they sometimes go into semi-trance mode, but as on `Terror And Tired Eyes` or `In Silence` the payback is most certainly there. Somewhere in between sits `Swansong`, which again showcases Marc's astute tunefulness and distinctive harmony work. The pop-folk of `Silent And Blind` is simply lovely and the traditional `Satan,Your Kingdom Must Come Down` is an inspired choice. This album deserves that you give it the attention it deserves and listening to it all the way through is a rewarding expereince indeed.
Reviewed By Robin Wills.

Posted in Ten Of Swords - reviews on 20/10/2010

Ten Of Swords

Shindig Magazine (Reviewed By David Bash)

MARC CARROLL - Ten Of Swords (Evangeline)

The former leader of the critically aclaimed mid '90s band The Hormones has embarked upon a solo career, with exemplary results. Ten Of Swords is a do-it-yourself effort by this talented Irishman, and fans of other D.I.Y.-ers like Michael Carpenter will just love these elegant, introspective tunes. Carroll does all the vocals and plays everything on almost all of the tracks, and his main songwriting gifts are communicated through a striking layering of stringed instruments, particularly his adept use of the mandolin. There's a lot of variety on Ten Of Swords; you get melodic rockers ('Idiot World', 'Weird Dreams'), the jangly pop songs 'Crashpad Number' and 'You Saved My Life (Again Last Night),' Simon and Garfunkel-esque ballads ('Silent And Blind,' 'Falling Into Nowhere'), and traditional British folk ('Satan, Your Kingdom Must Come Down'). The real masterpiece on the album is its coda, 'Terror And Tired Guns (The Brilliance And Violence Of Vincent Van Gogh),' which is a haunting tale both lyrically and musically. Ten Of Swords is an excellent beginning to what musically erudite pop fans will hope to be a very fruitful career by Mr. Carroll.

Posted in Ten Of Swords - reviews on 20/10/2010

Ten Of Swords

Torpedo Pop (US)

The music varies between shimmering, jangly Pop-Rock nuggets and moody, folkish, singer-songwriter tomes, with a general congregation, respectively, on the putative sides 1 and 2. But they all come together as a whole, a fetching, euphonic whole. Lead off track Crashpad Number intros briefly with an acoustic guitar until an electric bass, a chiming electric guitar and the drums enter in turn, and the song sparkles and soars in mid-tempo. Carroll's vocals are sweet as a Georgia peach with subtle inflection shifts between mid-Mississippi (the river not the state) tang and a Celtic twang. The following, Mrs. Lullaby, is a haunting tale which mixes Psych and Folk elements topped by much vocal layering -- coming to a Rubble volume in the year 2018. The third number, You Saved My Life (Again Last Night), is one of those singer-songwriterly type tunes -- a lovely, twangy, Country-Rock ballad -- funnily enough it is the only one on the album done with a whole band. But he is just as facile with the Rock: Idiot World is a charging, coruscating tune, and Weird Dreams is a ringing, propulsive, multi-layered number that ranks with the finest Velvet Crush -- and these are just Carroll all on his lonesome. There is one cover, a finely picked, harmony-filled version of the traditional tune Satan, Your Kingdom Must Come Down. I'd also like to note the breathy, echo-laden, one-man Simon & Garfunkelish Silent And Blind. This is truly a lovely album.

Posted in Ten Of Swords - reviews on 20/10/2010

Ten Of Swords

Rough trade Shop

Debut album by Irish singer songwriter Marc Carroll on Evangeline. Apart from two tracks he plays all the instruments himself. Lush and thrilling acoustic (with a nod to The Replacements/Uncle Tupelo) pop. A glorious album.

Posted in Ten Of Swords - reviews on 20/05/2011

Ten Of Swords

Logo

Emerging seemingly out of nowhere, Irish singer songwriter Marc Carroll's debut sits in the centre of a triangle bounded by the Caledonian MOR of Del Amitri, the hook laden pop of The Replacements and mid-period REM and the amplified sideways folk of fellow country men Tir Na Nog and David Kitt. In mood and temperament `Ten Of Swords` is a close cousin of Del Amitri's `Some Other Suckers Parade`, yet Carroll deftly avoids any hint of stereotype by the simple expedients of diversity and expertise. `Mrs Lullaby hints at what might have been had Syd Barret joined Fairport Convention, or had he emerged to front Cosmic Rough Riders, while `Satan Your Kingdom Must Come Down` is a tantalizing glimpse of how Roger Waters might handle a Woody Guthrie tribute. The remainder invite similar esoteric comparisons, yet Carroll remains resolutely an individual, the key here is his open ear and willingness to experiment, making `Ten Of Swords` as welcome as it is unexpected.

Posted in Ten Of Swords - reviews on 20/10/2010

Ten Of Swords

Americana

This debut release from Ireland's Marc Carroll indicates an artist in love with music, and good music at that. His influences range from Dylan, Beach Boys and The Byrds to Buzzcocks and Velvet Underground and on this CD they are all in their wrestling for your attention. From the McGuinn inspired Rickenbacker jangle on the upbeat opener "Crashpad Number" through to a traditional rendition of the dark folk classic "Satan, Your Kingdom Must Come Down", Carroll delivers a wide range of musical goods with an obvious passion. There's a new wave feel and urgent buzzy guitars on songs like "Idiot World" (which once featured as backing music to Football Focus, apparently) and "Weird Dreams" whilst "Swan Song" and "You Saved My Life Again Last Night" are classic hum-along 60's soaked pop (think "She's Electric" by Oasis and you get the idea). As well as harmony laden breezy pop he also can handle subtle acoustic ballads such as the mystical "In Silence" and the delicate love song "Falling Into Nowhere". What really comes through on this record beyond Carroll's obvious talent is the fact he appears to having a ball. 'Ten Of Swords' is a celebration of simple, well-crafted popular music executed with ability and enthusiasm- the kind of thing Del Amitri used to do so well. It may not have complex depths or be particularly fashionable but Carroll obviously doesn't really care about that- he just wants to play music, entertain and have fun. This clearly comes across and a lot of it rubs off on the listener- R.B

Posted in Ten Of Swords - reviews on 20/10/2010

Ten Of Swords

Tangents

I'm also dreaming of an Indian Summer over here in the UK, not least because it would be just the right kind of climate to accompany the release of Marc Carroll's Ten Of Swords album. It's certainly been a fantastic soundtrack to my own high summer, with its ace power-folk-country-pop-rock ringing through my ears as I head up and out along country lanes, sensing guitars cascading from the skies. It's one of my criteria for judging the greatness of Pop you see: its ability to stick in my head and accompany bicycle rides. Ten Of Swords passes the test with flying colours. There are a whole host of memorable tunes: opening single 'Crashpad Number' with its ringing McGuinn esque guitars and its nod to 'Manic Monday' as the chorus takes off; Mrs Lullaby, who it seems 'turns tricks for a pound', and which ushers in ghostly memories of the Jam at their Pop best (although it might just be the way Carroll sings 'in a strange town'; 'Idiot World' coming on like Velvet Crush with a lost classic from the mighty In The Presence Of Greatness. It's not all rocking out though. Songs like the gorgeous gentle shuffle of 'Soft and Blind', the country picking 'Falling Into Nowhere' or the album closing 'Terror and Tired Eyes' are restrained moments of beauty, all the while filled with melodies you want to hum all day long. At times it all recalls the wonder of those early Uncle Tupelo records, notably Still Feel Gone, and like those alt-country groundbreakers, Carroll has the good taste to cover the traditional folk tune 'Satan Your Kingdom Must Come Down'. I'd wager Carroll first heard the song via Uncle Tupelo rather than through Harry Smith's American Folk Anthology, but that's no crime of course. With Ten Of Swords Marc Carroll has made a marvellous fusion of folk, country, rock and pop, and it deserves to be huge. Let's just pray for some sunshine to go with it.

Posted in Ten Of Swords - reviews on 20/10/2010

Ten Of Swords

Net Rhtyms

The former frontman of much underrated Irish chiming pop rock outfit The Hormones, continues his love affair with the 12 string Rickenbacker on his debut album, along with Roger McGuinn influences that embrace the folk pyschedelia of The Byrds and the folkier tones of his later solo work. Not to mention The Buzzcocks touches of `Idiot World`. From the opening jangle of `Crashpad Number` to the haunting plangent closer `Terror And Tired Eyes (The Brilliance And Violence Of Vincent Van Gogh)`, it's a glorious blood firing piece of work, exploding with hooks and infectious melodies, his bruised weary vocal tones equally adept on songs and styles that range from the spare Guthrie-esque gospel folk trad number `Satan Your Kingdom Must Come Down` and the cosmic psychedelia of `In Silence` (shades of The Stone Roses here) to an amped up tumbling Byrdmaniax era `Weird Dreams`, the unadorned folksy skipping of `You Saved My Life(Again Last Night)`, and the west coast meets Simon And Garfunkelisms of `Silent And Blind` and `Falling Into Nowhere`. According to the tarot, `Ten Of Swords` denotes ruin, failure and disaster. Not here it doesn't.

Posted in Ten Of Swords - reviews on 20/05/2011

Ten Of Swords

Teletext (8/10)

Marc Carroll - Ten Of Swords
There isn't, it would appear, an angle on Carroll. He's from Dublin, he sings and he plays all the instruments. That's it, press interest is thus minimal which is a shame, as this is the sort of unalloyed, unpretentious delight that makes you want to rush out into the street to grab strangers and yell what a gorgeous discovery you've made. A touch of Ben Kweller here, a dab of Teenage Fanclub there, but mostly the sense that Carroll would be evil if he kept such a joy to himself.

Posted in Ten Of Swords - reviews on 20/05/2011

TEN OF SWORDS

Felixonline.co.uk (4/5)

We're experiencing something of a mini-golden age in terms of singer-songwriters at the moment. Recently, James Yorkston, Damon Gough, Ed Harcourt, Ben Kweller and the likes have given us everything from wistful pagan beauty to out-spaced subversiveness. The blood of The La's courses through the veins of this album. You'd suspect that if Lee Mavers was doing something right now, he'd have made this. The guitars are simple but the tunes are all intact. One moment you'll be in the middle of a gushing folky romp, the next moment, a brooding mini-epic. Because the tracks are so short (about three minutes on average), it's only on further visits that Carroll truly displays his raunchy wares. You Saved My Life (Again) is a charming feel-good ditty about drinking buddies and Crashpad Number is a sparkling ray of defiance that will get your feet tapping. Of the edgier moments, Idiot World rattles along with the spirit of Teenage Fanclub, Your Kingdom Must Come Down taunts the Devil in the most wholesome manner you can imagine whilst Terror And Tired Eyes jolts along with the warped histrionics of the Super Furry Animals. If you're not convinced by the whole singer-songwriter phenomenon then this is unlikely to sway you. For everyone else, this offers little new in terms of moving the genre forward but is an album of unpretentious, heartfelt joy that wouldn't be out of place played in daydreams. It's a shame he's been ignored by the music media simply because he doesn't act like a rock star, preach his politics or throw darts at pheasants. He only makes honest, no nonsense pop music. Possibly the greatest crime he commits here is leaving you to return to the real world after half an hour. Let Carroll bear his sword and return with a vengeance.