CD Review: Carlon – Johari Window (Ropeadope Records)

The thundering rock sound of Carlon erupts from the beginning of the first song, grinding and digging under the skin of the listener, pounding a person into submission but strangely not from the outside, but seemingly from the inside where the music has burrowed itself like some sort of worm into your subconscious. Slide guitars wails, thunderous drums plod and pound, and the bass rattles your bones and innards as if a volcano was erupting from inside of you, spewing forth a hybrid of metal and southern rock that would make My Morning Jacket turn off their reverb and listen intently.

The second song in slows the onslaught for a brief time, bringing forth a true MMJ vibe as the plucked “ban-tar” (half banjo/half guitar) and overall pastoral feel lull the listener into a blissful dreamlike state. Both Michael McWilliams and Ryan McGlynn sing and are responsible for a multitude of stringed instruments while MiloVenter (drums) and Jared Pollack (bass) handle rhythm section duties. The mid-tempo-to-slow pulse remains for several more songs, making you almost woozy with the ragged meter of the songs. The rock returns mid-album with Caution Rosie which is as close to a pure pop song as the band has attempted thus far on the CD – and it’s not really poppy per se but has a sprightly beat and a memorable melody.

The album proceeds into more downbeat territory again, and pretty much leaves the rock alone until the last song on the CD, which pretty much takes on a jammy rockabilly beat and goes for broke, ending the album on a strong note.

http://www.myspace.com/carlonmusic

Scott