Carol NoonanCountry of origin:U.S. Type of music generally:Folk rock, blues, country, traditional. Most recent work is occasionally bluesy folk rock. Status:Most recent release, Raven Girl (covers, 2016) See also:Carol Noonan's site Comparisons:I'm kind of put in mind of late-era Swimming Pool Q's/Anne Richmond Boston. Also hints of the British folk tradition á la June Tabor and Sandy Denny. (7/02, neal) Covers/own material:American traditionals, cowboys songs, covers, and own material General comments:I've really been enjoying Carol's music over the years (originally the lead singer of Knots and Crosses), she released 3 excellent albums on Philo/Rounder before being dropped. She's now self-released two albums, one of mostly traditional songs with a few originals, the other mostly originals with a few traditional songs. She has a lovely trad folk voice, maybe slightly reminiscent of Sandy Denny or some of the other folk revival singers from that time. Recommended first album:Self Titled Recordings:
AbsolutionRelease info:1995—Philo/Rounder—PHIL1176 Availability:Wide on release Ecto priority:Recommended for Carol Noonan fans Group members:Carol Noonan—vocals, acoustic guitar Guest artists:Kevin Barry—acoustic & electric guitar Comments:Carol Noonan used to be in a wonderful country-folk-rock band from Peaks Island, Maine, called Knots and Crosses. They put out two great albums, then went their separate ways. Absolution is okay, but the lyrics are a bit too overtly Christian for me. She has since moved to the Boston area, and now has another band (The Carol Noonan Band) and a new album that sounds just like the old Knots and Crosses. She has a wonderfully powerful voice, but the songwriting isn't particularly outstanding. (meth@smoe.org) Noonan Building & Wrecking(as the Carol Noonan Band)
Release info:1996—Philo/Rounder—PH 1196 Availability:Wide on release Ecto priority:Recommended Group members:Kevin Barry—electric and acoustic guitar Guest artists:Ray Green—backup vocals Produced by:Chris Rival and The Carol Noonan Band Comments:This album seems more bluesy/folk-rocky, more driving, than her later offerings. It contains mostly original tunes with one traditional song and two covers (one that appears to be by the Indigo Girls). The most traditional-sounding song is an original murder ballad, while the traditional "Kitchen Girl" gets a harder-edged workout. Of course, she still manages to include "Going Under", a plaintive piano-centric ballad of an uneven relationship (a pretty regular topic) that is as hauntingly beautiful as anything she has recorded. (7/02, neal) the only witness(as the Carol Noonan Band)
Release info:1997—Philo/Rounder—PH 1209 Availability:Wide on release Ecto priority:Recommended Group members:Carol Noonan—lead and backing vocals, acoustic guitar, piano Guest artists:Jay Bellerose—drums and percussion Produced by:Paul Bryan Comments:The same mix of songs as on the last album: 7 originals, 2 covers and a traditional song. The production is punchier though, which makes the instrumentation sharper and the stylistic variations more distinct. This is a generally melancholy album, full of songs of lost love, broken relationships and even a suicide. But it's not a depressing album to listen to. The vignettes are well-imagined (it's easy to imagine "Steadfast" appearing on a Natalie Merchant solo album) and cover a full spectrum of folk, pop, country and folkrock. (7/02, neal) Self TitledRelease info:1999—Noonan Music, 695 Dugway, Brownfield, Maine 04010 Availability:Available on web site Ecto priority:Highly recommended to people with an ear for folk. Group members:Carol Noonan—vocals, acoustic guitar, roxy organ Guest artists:Merrie Amsterburg—backing vocals, glockenspiel Produced by:Paul Bryan Comments:I'm always happy when I can enthusiastically recommend the latest work by an artist and say it is the best thing they have done yet. I'm not really sure what makes this album stand out for me. After listening to her older albums, it doesn't sound wildly different. Just...more. More powerful. More haunting. And, of course, the usual mix of covers and originals, all tastefully arranged and passionately sung. Her song "Lost Soul" is one of the most mournful I have heard in ages. (The chorus goes "Somewhere I lost my heart. Somewhere I lost my soul.") (8/02, neal) Big IronRelease info:2001—Noonan Music, 695 Dugway, Brownfield, Maine 04010 Availability:Available on web site Ecto priority:For fans of either the musician or the music. Group members:Carol Noonan—vocals, acoustic guitar, dobro, hammond, little Jeannie Blake's accordian Guest artists:Kevin Barry—nylon string, 12 string, acoustic guitars, back packer, electric mandolin Produced by:Paul Bryan and Chris Rival Comments:In recent years, a number of artists have released cover albums (notably Tori Amos and Emm Gryner), and several have even released albums full of traditional material they enjoyed as kids. Carol Noonan's Big Iron belongs on the shelf in between Kristin Hersh's murder, misery and then goodnight and Jane Siberry's Hush. The similarities with Jane's album are most striking, as both contain versions of "Streets of Laredo" and "Shenandoah". Carol throws together 8 traditional "cowboy" songs, adds two stylistically and topically similar originals, and revives and recasts "Unknown Thing" (originally on the Carol Noonan Band's 1997 release The Only Witness) as a Sept 11 elegy. Thanks to neal for work on this entry.
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