Marc Carroll

Inimitably, it blends power and coarseness without compromising its warmth. Important attributes as raw emotions and tenderness are rendered with precision through an array of songs of a distinct musical identity as well as intriguing familiarity. The guitar work has shades of the Byrds as in "Always" and occasionally harmonies can bring distant memories of the Beach Boys. 

But Carroll's sound is ultimately his own. "Love Over Gold" has an anthemic bravura and is a vocal tour de force. Traditional "Matty Groves" and "Dark And Lucky Night" hypnotise with the energy of their pounding, punkish directness.

But the haunting "Against My Will" could very well epitomise Carroll's own unhappy fate at the hands of record companies a direction that is impressively reversed here by One Little Indian.

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Whisperinandhollerin' , UK (July 2011) :

8/10

Marc Carroll was a name I hadn’t heard before this month. He’s an Irish singer songwriter with folk, country and alt-rock trimmings, and God knows there are plenty of those. So what a treat is was to love the album from the first riff of the introductory instrumental "The Boy Who dreamed". "In Silence" makes a virtue (so hard this) of putting quality songs into well-used formats, with a sincerity and magic that you can’t fake.

The man's heart, soul and love of music just burst out from that first teasing tune. It's an album to listen to straight from the bottle. No pondering is required. No critical discourse is needed. Let go and let it flow.
He seems to have heard and absorbed all the folk and country rock idioms since 1966, and he reshuffles them with complete assurance. It sounds natural, unforced and sweet on the ear. My pr notes suggest that One Little Indian have let him do just what he wants and the comfortably sincere sound that he produces confirms the claim.

On the first song "Love Over Gold" his voice evokes the classic textures and phrasing of Dylan on “Baby Blue” and Don Henley on "Boys of Summer". Over the top on reverb? Maybe. But it does no harm. The big soulful electric and acoustic guitar sounds carry over into "What’s Left Of My Heart" and make their layered changes through the rest of the album. Hooky little riffs and shifting chords tease the emotions.

Every so often there's a glimpse of another song or voice – Tom Petty seems to make an appearance in "No Time At All". But it's fun spotting them and there's neither lack of self-awareness or presence of artifice in what he's doing. Sweeney's Men, The Pogues and Paul Brady might be there too.

Early Fairport Convention get their nod of appreciation too – his version of "Matty Groves" has glints of Richard Thompson's young fire without being tempted into the extended solo. He sings the brute with great authority. The resigned and regretful "In Agreement With Reality" has a Knockin' On Heaven's Door" feel. A simple piano part and female backing vocals give it depth and lustre.

"Always" is a resilient anthem for hard times, "Press On" a delightful reversion to the perfect simplicity of something like "Blowin' In The Wind", without sounding the least bit like Donovan. The album closer "In Reverse" is a darker work, built (I think) from the album's overture spooled back to front. It's a neat touch.

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Irish Times, 3 stars (July 2011) :

In Silence One Little Indian ***

He may have spent the last two decades traversing continents in search of a place to call his own, but Dublin’s Marc Carroll has found a new home at UK indie label One Little Indian. This compilation of songs from his last two albums World on a Wire and Dust of Rumour act as an introduction to the LA-based musician’s songbook. His easygoing acoustic musings, infused with Irish folk despite his global wanderings, are augmented by lush strings ( No Time at All ) and layered vocals that act as a comfort blanket of sound. Yet it’s the sparse, simplistic frames of songs like Press On that showcase Carroll’s songwriting ability best. It may not convince nonbelievers, but it’s certainly enough to pique interest in his sixth album, due next year. See marccarroll.com

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Heineken.ie, 4 stars. (July 2011)

For some unfathomable reason, Marc Carroll means very little to very few. Carroll used to be in one of Dublin’s most praised back-in-the-day bands (Puppy Love Bomb); then he was in a praised London-based band called The Hormones; and then about ten years he went solo, and released three albums that were, yes, praised. He is, then, something of a critic’s favourite, which is all well and good, but it sure doesn’t pay the bills. Now signed to One Little Indian, In Silence isn’t a studio record proper, but rather a selection of tracks culled from his previous two albums (World On A Wire andDust Of Rumour) as a means to introduce Carroll to those unfamiliar with his work.

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The Metro, Ireland, 4 Stars (July 2011)

Exiled in Los Angeles for going on two decades, gravel-throated Dubliner Marc Carroll has been overlooked for too long back in the old country. This compilation, culled from his first four studio records, should at least begin to remedy that injustice. Delivered in a sweet, ragged voice that suggests Bob Dylan after rigorous singing lessons, Love Over Gold sounds like a recently uncovered folk classic from the 1960's. With the dust of the open highway caked to his boots, Carroll evokes widescreen Americana with a flourish many of his contemporaries can only dream of. Maybe that's why he has never quite recieved his dues back home. His music feels so authentically American. In Silence is worth making plenty of noise about.

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Cluas.com, Ireland (August 2011)

Review Snapshot: Carroll’s rhythmic arrangements and calming husky tones will accommodate most tastes as the album gently works through a plethora of genres, but it both requires and deserves your full attention. Best enjoyed on a long quiet car journey. 

The Cluas Verdict:  7 out of 10

Full Review: It’s a joy finding something new­­­­­ to mull over, although in this case ‘it’ is hardly new as singer/songwriter Marc Carroll has been carving out his musical career for over 20 years, albeit with modest commercial success. ‘In Silence’, a collection of his work to date,  both requires and deserves greater attention.

The collection begins with ‘The Boy Who Dreamed’, an instrumental of gentle inoffensive folk melodies before elevating into ‘Love Over Gold’ the second track and my first opportunity to sample Carroll’s striking vocals and confident delivery - its rousing, almost ethnic, sound discusses loss and faith, It’s heartfelt with lyrics that prompt repeated listening. The reverb, courtesy of the wah pedal effect, build the song well while blending comfortably with the acoustics.

‘In Silence’ is a grown-up album. Carroll is evidently well-seasoned on the life torments of love and loss and can articulate his experiences in a reflective, not bitter, way. Melodies on ‘No Time at All’ and ‘Against My Will’ are modest in their construction. This isn’t an album of intricate chords and complicated note arrangements.  Carroll’s guitar execution is not fuelled, but rather a delicate extension of himself to chaperone his vivid and enchanting storytelling. His stories are descriptive and animated “When I turned to the West, I felt instantly alone, kicked the mud off my boots and slept for days..”

Carroll comes across as a life observer rather than player. In ‘What’s Left of My Heart’, he is dejected yet refrains from anger: “She can ease my pain..And sadly I all I can do is stand beside, and bless the day I found her” His despondent but accepting attitude is refreshing.  “Its clear to see even natures singing in the minor key .. and will forever”  The acceptance of his environment is mature and real, and with a surprisingly upbeat melody and pace for such a melancholic track this is one of my favourites on the album.

‘No Time At All’ has a one minute instrumental introduction which sets the pace nicely on this soporific take on the passing of time. Uncomplicated chords again accompany Carroll’s dulcet tones and the harmonies simmer along nicely with lyrics that perfectly illustrate the singers tolerant attitude “Gotta keep movin ..don’t look back don’t hesitate”.

‘A Dark and Lucky Night’ combines electric and acoustic and lends itself to the power pop genre before building to an uplifting harmony buoyed by an undeniable gospel influence.  ‘A Way Back Out of Here’ meanwhile sounds like a Randy Travis tribute before progressing to combine string and percussion to layer and give a soundtrack quality.  It’s thin for the most part however and one of the weaker tracks for me.

Along with ‘Love Over Gold’, ‘Always’ is one of the most melodious songs on ‘In Silence’ .  Unlike ‘Love Over Gold’ however there are no distortions to bait you in. Its poppy harmonies achieve enough of a hook and go a long way to disguise some of the darker lyrics “Its not a beautiful world, its a cold..sad and lonely world”

In ‘Press On’ Carroll does little to deny a Dylan influence, while the stirring ‘Against My Will’ vocals fail to hide his Irish roots. An album of contradictions some might say, with the assimilation of so many varying impressions, but something tells me Carroll is keen to not be pigeon-holed, and has in fact a very international sound.

‘In Silence’ works through every genre from pop to Irish folk. Much is made of the Bob Dylan and Brian Wilson influences, and their subsequent championing of his cause has been well documented.  A gravel voice and an acoustic guitar, however, will eternally draw parallels with other songwriters.  There are a multitude of impressions in Carroll’s work, but with his candid approach to each performance, none of these influences could be construed as intentional or contrived.  Instead, let the depictive nature of his storytelling along with the simplicity of themes like love, loss and the less glamorous endurance, be the real testament to the maturity and substance in this talented song-writers music. 

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Daily Star, Ireland *** (August 2011)

Irish hero Marc Carroll is currently in Los Angeles working on a new album die for release next year. In the meantime, he kicks off the imminent reissues of four albums in his back catalogue with an retrospective album that reminds listeners of his great talen.  Gravel voiced Carroll works through a myriad of genres including pop to indie to Irish folk, all with aplomb. 

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Little Comments, UK (August 2011)

If there was ever an award for most incidents in a career, Marc Carroll would certainly be a contender for it. In a career spanning ten years, the Irish singer-songwriter has had his unlucky share of folded labels, collapsed deals, money-grabbing marketers and just a bunch of mongs.

And yet, despite these confidence-denting setbacks, Marc has produced four albums worth of material that is full of heart, and act as a physical tribute to his single-minded determination and talent. Each of which has received critical acclaim which begs the question, why is Marc Carroll not yet in the charts? Fortunately through the release of new album In Silence on stable label One Little Indian, the answer is in sight.

NetRhythms, UK, August 2011 :