CAROLYN MARK plays the Dakota Monday (October 1). See listing. Rating: NNN
Victoria’s “boozy chanteuse,” Carolyn Mark, is back with her sixth album, depending on how you count them. She’s made plenty more with Tolan McNeil, Neko Case and NQ Arbuckle.
Celebratory in sound, it was recorded in three different towns – Victoria, Vancouver and Hollister, California – and is chock full of delicious textures, from crunchy, elegant guitar lines to strings, horns and sha-la-las.
Beneath the exuberance, however, lies an increasing cynicism. Communicating unease, loneliness and humility has long been a part of Mark’s lyrical wit and goes hand in hand with her party vibe. But she takes it a step too far when she leaves songs sounding unfinished, even if that’s part of the joke.
That said, this is her best work since 2004’s brilliant The Pros And Cons Of Collaboration. Standouts include sad and subtle Baby Goats and Flaming Star, a cover of an Elvis song about fending off death.
Top track: Baby Goats
