Nathaniel Carroll

A House By The Highway (2004)

Jordan Rogowski

I know somebody has said this in a review before, and I don't remember the exact quote, but it's definitely relevant here, so I'll paraphrase. "If you're going to namedrop the Beatles in a press sheet, you damn well better have the ability to back it up." Such is the case with Nathaniel Carroll's A House By The Highway, a back and forth solo effort in which Carroll projects his musical talents both with the piano and the acoustic guitar. Also, and probably more fairly, compared to Ben Folds, Carrolls songs stand up very well in their own right, though it's obviously the piano where he feels more at home. That's not to say Carroll shouldn't be playing guitar, as those songs nicely compliment the time spent on the ivories, but he's able to create such well-crafted songs around the piano, it makes you wonder why he'd opt for anything else.

Carroll exhibits a variety of strengths throughout the course of the album, including strong storytelling, the ability to tackle tough subjects through his lyrics, and a great overall sense of melody, be it on the piano or the acoustic guitar. "Time Machine" is a bouncy, very upbeat song that validates any Ben Folds comparisons people may have, and whether that's for the better or the worse depends on just how you feel about Ben Folds' songwriting capabilities. The song goes back and forth on the scale, the one drawback being Carroll's monotone sounding voice. Now, after repeated listens to the album, I can't quite figure out why his voice sounds so stale for the majority of the song, yet so full of life everywhere else. Regardless, the album's next track "When This Leaf Has Turned" stands as without a doubt one of its best. A very laid back, almost whimsical acoustic track, Carroll's lyrics seem to jump off the page right into your mind;

Maybe the one will survive, and plant a seed for those of us who died / When the ground turns to white / I'll find comfort knowing that I tried.

It's a beautiful song, and the lyrics are very fitting, though maybe not as much so as in "Christmas Wish," in which Carroll tells of his fathers struggle with what is known as Lou Gehrig's disease;

On a night like this evening or an hour ago, my old man looked at me and smiled / And he said to me, ‘boy, could you give me a hand, I have no more strength left to show' / So I went to the chair where he spent all those years, and touched it / And it still feels warm / It was like he was there just an our ago, on a lonely, cold Christmas morn / Will you promise your father you'll be faithful? / Will you promise me son, that you'll pray? / And I know that I'll boast to the Holy Ghost that Nathaniel, you're doing just great / How will you know that you're leaving, I said / How will you know it's time? / ‘Son, listen up, when it's time to stop breathing you will know by the look in my eyes / You will know that I have lead a good life.'

It's one of the more emotional songs that I've heard in some time, and especially for people who have dealt with the subject matter, the combination of those lyrics and the subtle keystrokes are sure to make a few people tear up. Though he saved the best for last, Carroll has plenty of good tunes to hold you over during the album's duration. Transitions between guitar and piano are relatively subtle, and he always keeps the songwriting clever and honest. The seven minute "Tomorrow, Never Today" showcases some great piano playing, and a really stellar flow leading into the acoustic "Minute," which deals with the Oklahoma City bombing of a decade ago.

Combining the best things about Ben Folds and Elliott Smith, Nathaniel Carroll also throws in a style all his own, and has made one of the best records I've heard so far this year. Buy this if for nothing other than the song "Christmas Wish," as it's truly incredible. Piano or guitar, Carroll has succeeded in doing just about everything right on A House By The Highway, and I can't wait to see what he brings us next.