Marc Carroll

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.