Tommy Carns - Get Up and Fall Down

  by Peter Liddle

published: 17 / 12 / 2001

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Review

Beware of Tommy Carns. He's a trickster. At first impressions, you might think this is another country boy folk album with some sort of modern twist. Well it is. But it's a lot more - press on past the first basic guitar and singing track and there's more still to be found. It's one of those subtly surprising albums. Nothing jumps out immediately , but when you've listened to it, you realise afterwards that you've changed your mind about it. The great thing about this album is its songwriting. Regardless of style (and Carns shifts around a bit in that department) the messages in the songs are pure, meaningful and personal. In this day and age, it' is rare for people to be able to do such a thing in a contemporary style. Luckily, Carns manages this well, breaking down country vibes to their basic and best components, and stitching it back together using complex arrangements of strings, drums, and brass. So, coupling the splendid words are nice arrangements. Touches of jazz and country and more minimal arrangements (including Carns appearing unaccompanied) give good contrast within a relaxed, contemplative mood. Instrumental track 'Tweezer' shows off a mixture of jazz and quiet Spanish guitar, then suddenly disco-infected beats blur the mix. Strangely, all of this seems natural. This, indeed, is a very natural album. Its themes are honesty, hurt, integrity, and love, or lack of it. He sings "How you've torn apart my heart and put it back together much better than the start" and it sounds genuine. That in itself is talent - a man who can sing from the heart, really really sing from it, rather than the sort of self-pitying "emotion" of many (more popular) songwriters. Carns takes his lead from the likes of Jeff Buckley in creating a style and voice that is not of his time, but which still says more than what his generation is apparently telling us.

Track Listing:-