Bloomington, Indiana based singer-songwriter Carrie Newcomer has a knack for writing about the human condition. She writes and sings the songs that describe who we are, and where we've come from.
Newcomer sings songs that are easy to relate to, and that always seem to speak to the human condition. This album has three new songs "Toward The Horizon," "Betty's Diner," and "Bowling Baby" and then it has fifteen tracks from previously released CD's.
The opening track on this album, "Toward The Horizon," starts off with a few lines that make the listener realize that Newcomer is not afraid to be vulnerable..."Stretched as thin as paper, hollow as the sky...empty as my pockets, hungry as my eyes...wells fill up from the bottom, but it's gonna take some time...it's gonna take a little doing to gather my insides...there's such a wide and open space, such a wide and open ache, with no answers to these hard and silent 'why's?'..."
How often do most people feel that way, yet fail to voice their true feelings...Carrie Newcomer's lyrics give voice to the feelings and emotions that so many of us feel, yet often don't have the right words for...
Newcomer has a knack for crafting simple, easy going songs and melodies that seem to be steeped in folk and sometimes have a bluesy feel to them.
In the title track, "Betty's Diner," Newcomer writes about some of the characters who frequent Betty's Diner. In this song you'll meet Miranda, the waitress, and some of the customers like Arthur, who always lets his Earl Grey steep. Then there's Kevin, who tests new saxophones, yet seems to have a dream that he'll get out one day and "make it" in the big city. Jack is the first in his family to get past high school, and he's sweet on Emma. The chorus opens with this incredible reminder that "church" and "communion" can happen almost anywhere: "here we are all in one place, the wants and wounds of the human race...despair and hope sit face to face when you come in from the cold..." Newcomer reminds listeners in her warm, rich voice later in the song that, "You never know who'll be your witness, You never know who grants forgiveness." and in the next line she invites all to "look to heaven or sit with us." There are other characters from the diner, and it seems like no matter who Newcomer is singing about, they spark a memory of someone you know in real life. The characters are like-able and believable, making for a really great song. Incidentally, the song "Betty's Diner" came from a short story Newcomer wrote. Apparently, even though she was done with the short story, the characters were not done with her, and she is currently working on recording a whole album called Regulars and Refugees: More stories from the Diner to be released in August of 2005.)
Carrie Newcomer's Uncle Louie used to own a bowling alley in South Bend, Indiana, and she spent, "Many a Saturday morning at junior bowling league." Inspired by those times, she wrote the tune "Bowling Baby" from the perspective of the guy that hands you your bowling shoes. It's a fun, upbeat song.
Some of the other songs on the CD are simply incredible. "I'll Go, Too" offers a glimpse into the beauty of the relationship between the artist and her dad. In the song, her dad is there for her when she's a little girl and scared of the monsters under the bed, he is there for her. When she's learning how to swim, he's there for her. On her wedding day, he's there for her. Each time, he takes her by the hand and tells her "I'll Go, Too." Later on in the song, Newcomer gets to be the one who is there for her dad. How many times in our own lives do we so long for someone to come alongside of us, take our hand, and tell us "I'll walk that road with you" or more simply, "I'll go too?"
Alison Krauss helps out with the vocals on "The Gathering of Spirits," a stunningly beautiful song. In this song, Newcomer encourages the listener to "Let it go, my love, my truest, let it sail on silver wings." and then tells them that "Life's a twinkling, that's for certain and it's such a fine thing. There's a gathering of spirits, there's a festival of friends, and we'll take up where we left off when we all meet again." This song is reminiscent of family gatherings, or fellowshipping at church, or even picking up right with someone not seen in a long time without an awkward strain to find things to talk about. It just comes naturally.
Apparently, I am not the only 20-something that feels Carrie Newcomer's words are worth paying attention to, and sharing with others. Fans of the band Nickel Creek will recognize the track "I Should've Known Better" from their album, This Side." Nickel Creek certainly took that song and added their own special touch to it, making it very much their own.
The song "Threads" is about relationships - in her own family, among her friends: "Let the wind blow like horses Running wild across the sky / Let the doors close and open Or pull us in or pass us by / We have all followed the fabric Where ever it led /Joined to one another by Invisible threads." She even includes relationship with her husband -- but it's not done in a typical "love song" sort of way -- it's tasteful and very life-affirming: "If I live to be 100 I won't forget your eyes / Or the feel of your body Lying next to mine / No one loves you like I do No one knows you so well / All the ghosts that still haunt you Or the secrets you won't tell."
Newcomer also encourages her listeners to, "Let Your life speak 'cause there ain't no secrets. Let your head help but let your heart talk... And live your life like it don't get much better, walk right in like you own the joint...get right down to the heart of the matter, live straight to the point, straight to the point" in the track "Straight to the Point."
"My Father's Only Son" is about going on a fishing trip with her dad. She tells us: "My father had three daughters, so I became his only son..." and, later in the song she sings "The sun goes down and why no one knows...I grew up out of my fishing clothes...I told him once, and he slowly smiled...His only son was expecting a child..." signifying the change that comes in all relationships, and the end of one chapter and the start of another... at the end of the song she tells us "i'll remember all my life, my father's face in the deep twilight...in a boat under the evening sun, throwing back the little ones..."
The theme of relationships runs strongly in many of the songs on this album, and also in many of Newcomer's other songs. Refreshingly, it's the relationships among friends that she sings about as opposed to the "romantic" relationships. While there is a place for love songs, the world has heard lots of those. More songs about the positive aspects of relationships between mothers and daughters, daughters and fathers, and among family and friends are always needed.
Carrie Newcomer writes from what she knows, what she sees, and what she is moved by. It is no surprise then that she would make mentions of despair and hope, heaven and forgiveness. She writes songs for the heart, from the heart -- and she writes them well. This is someone who has seen the best of humanity and the worst of humanity, and still chooses to see the good in all of humanity. She is a Quaker, which puts a very positive (and sometimes unique) spin on her writing.
If someone isn't familiar with Carrie Newcomer, this album would be a good place to start...It showcases some of her stronger songs - and the ones that stand the test of time.
5 tocks
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