CM Hot Sheet Dec 5 (Page 1)
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PO Box 3613, Vancouver, BC Canada V6B 3Y6 phone 604/669.MINT • fax 604/669.6478 MINT RECORDS [email protected] • www.mintrecs.com CAROLYN MARK NOTHING IS FREE CD (MRD-107) ike her close ally Neko Case (with whom ark's music is so authentic in its back provided by Lshe once traded as The Corn Sisters), Mporch vibe, it seems to come with its own the eager bar Mark is a country girl with a wild streak. direct link to Loretta Lynn's '60s heyday-like her patrons, as Nimbly assisted by members of Canadian heroes, Mark is not afraid to rail against a man fiddle-filled folkies Po' Girl, the settings for these songs too drunk to understand his own fuck-ups. Not songs about are standard acoustic guitars, mandolin and to say Mark is some kind of saint: Her gigs are boozy days strings, but she fills them with enough devilry known for their off-balance candor and ribald off on tour and sly humour to draw you in to her bitter- humor as much as the homespun tunes. Go for tend to be. sweet world completely. In a wondrous voice the music, stay for the dirty jokes. Metromix Performing a set mostly composed of brand- that's half Kentucky hick, half Rocky Mountain New York new material from her forthcoming full-length, draught, Mark sings of blonde nymphs in lace Nothing is Free, these songs tended to show- ark strikes an even more impressive bal- panties, tedious wives, racy mistresses and case Mark's less-funny musical tendencies, ance between wit and heartfelt observation knives driven chestward. 4 Stars Uncut M highlighting her more subtle abilities as a on her fifth album, Nothing Is Free. She still gets powerful emotional songwriter. Exclaim! ark, the other sister to Neko Case in the a kick out of life's cruel ironies, but her droll MCorn Sisters is a notable act in her own insights are subtler and darker - a perfect com- arolyn Mark, who sounds eerily similar to right, bright and sharp on the up-tempo plement to her most bittersweet songs yet, CCase and once played in a band with her, numbers, and when it comes to the slow included the subdued waltz "The 1 That Got is one of the Great White North's brightest heart-tugging ballads she draws favourable Away (with It)" and the noirish "Happy 2B Flying purveyors of twangy alt-country.... Her fifth comparisons to Texas singer-songwriter Away." It's certainly a new direction for Mark record is, to put it simply, fun. You'll find Sarah Elizabeth Campbell. 4 Stars Maverick (fans who prefer her more direct humor should yourself smiling, laughing and singing along check out the uproarious tour diaries at carolyn- to nearly every track here.... 1 Thing is a rol- ike Case, she's a literate but accessible mark.com), and one that suggests her inability licking line-dancing-approved track about love, songwriter, and her high-lonesome voice is L to achieve Case's level of success may actually while Pictures Of 5 is a simple acoustic num- as devastating as it is warm and welcoming. be helping propel her songs closer to greatness. ber with more energy and enthusiasm than "The 1 That Got Away (With It)", from Mark's As she sings on "Pirate and Shotgun": pretty much any new-country disc.... But the just released Nothing is Free, is part of a Sometimes where you are is where you've been disc isn't just fun for her fans; it sounds like whole tradition of women's bittersweet tales trying to go." 4 Stars Time Out New York Mark is having a blast, too. Even slower songs of giving up intimacy for sexual freedom, like Point Of View are loose and casual; she from Janis Joplin singing "Freedom's just ark is allegedly a bit of a raconteur in the sounds relaxed, as if she's sitting around a another word for nothing left to lose," in the live environment and the one thing that M campfire with her friends. NOW Magazine Kris Kristofferson-penned "Me & Bobby stands out about 'Nothing Is Free' is that all of McGee" to Liz Phair's "Fuck And Run". With a the songs are bursting with personality. Mark er songs combine elements from 1950s spare background of acoustic guitar, violin, has a neat line in Americana - ranging from Hcountry music with modern soft and mandolin, Mark sees a choice between country rock to the tea party jazz of the sort that pop/folk...and Ms. Mark always makes things the "one that got away" and "the one that's in Mr Zimmerman dabbles in so successfully these sound completely effortless. Nothing Is Free the way." Mark comes up with another choice, days. Lyrically, Mark has a clever turn of phrase features nice, sparse arrangements and top the mischievous one who "just got away with and an endearing ability to not take herself too notch players (Paul Rigby, Paul Pigat, Diona it." She wonders, "If I keep you in the dark, seriously. Americana UK Davies). Enchanting tracks include "The where you'll always have to guess/ If I'm giv- Business End," "Pictures at 5," "Pink Moon and ark's witty on-stage banter carries over into ing you my heart or just taking off my dress/ all The Ladies" (our favorite), and "Destination: her cleverly poetic songs, mixing tinges of Maybe I'll be the one that got away with it." M You." Great stuff, recommended... (Rating: real emotion and heartbreak with biting sarcasm She's no weeping willow, though. Mark 5++) babysue.com and a love of good drink. Performing with both comes off as the kind of girl you'd have a an additional guitar player and a violinist, Mark's good cry with before she set out on further songs were perfectly suited to the atmosphere adventures. Pitchfork Marketing/Publicity: YVETTE RAY 416-535-9123 Mint Records East: Yvette Ray Retail Promotions: DAVE GOWANS 604-669-6468 phone 416/535.9123 • fax 416/535.9130 [email protected] email [email protected].