gmoney Posted March 12, 2015 Share Posted March 12, 2015 Daughn Gibson of Carlisle, PA is a singer, songwriter and musician possessed of a singular and strange vision. Carnation is the latest exhilarating and dark embodiment of that vision. It’s also his third album. It’s an album that’s more elegant and sophisticated than anything he’s done to date, and which sees the elements of country music, more prominent on his past records (the 2012 release All Hell on the White Denim label and Sub Pop’s 2013 release of Me Moan), undone by ambient textures and sounds to extraordinary effect. Shot through with a deep sensuality, Carnation is a high-wire balancing act, at times sexual, emotionally intense and comforting. The album features Daughn’s strongest songwriting yet, with lyrical subject matter that shares a kinship with writers Raymond Carver and Donald Ray Pollack. The music here combines with those lyrics to widescreen effect, and Carnation feels filmic in its execution: It evokes, and in many ways pays homage to, the works of Tim Burton, Pier Paulo Pasolini, and John Waters. Carnation’s most pervasive theme might best be described as the chaos of circumstance and the 11 tracks here tell related stories. In “Bled to Death,” Daughn passes away and laments the cruel hand dragging him back to earth. On “Daddy I Cut My Hair,” a young man recently released from a mental health facility desperately searches for sexual intimacy. “A Rope Ain’t Enough” follows the story of an ambivalent man suddenly awaking to the disease of masculinity, and formulating a plan to eradicate it. “It Wants Everything” is written from the point of view of a drunk and belligerent “jester of circumstance”. Then there’s the addictive lead single, “Shatter You Through,” which happens to detail a moment of peaceful sleep broken by the alarm clock toll of dread and sadness, but proves to be one hell of an earworm. Carnation was co-produced and recorded by Daughn Gibson and Randall Dunn (Earth, Sunn O))), Jesse Sykes, Tim Hecker). Dunn’s knack for textured mixes and sense of pagan weight collide with Gibson’s underlying pop sensibilities. The two also enlisted the talents of composer/violinist to Eyvind Kang on string arrangements, renowned studio drummer Matt Chamberlain, as well as Daughn’s long-standing musical conspirator, Jim Elkington. Additional contributions include: Steve Moore (Piano, Trombone, Keyboards and Synths); Milky Burgess, Paul Wegman, and Jer Rouse (Guitars); Skerik (Saxophone); and Jay Kardong (Pedal Steel). Carnation was recorded at Avast Studios in Seattle, Washington and mastered by Jason Ward at Chicago Mastering. New song: https://soundcloud.com/subpop/shatter-you-through/s-iK46E Preorder at Sub Pop: https://megamart.subpop.com/releases/daughn_gibson/carnation All customers who pre-order the LP version of Carnation will receive the album on Loser edition, Clear w/ White, Black & Blue colored vinyl, while supplies last. All pre-orders will also receive an instant download of the track, “Shatter You Through”, as well as a 2nd track before release day, which can be downloaded your SubPop.com account. In addition, by ordering through SubPop.com, you will be able to stream the album in full, up to 1 month before release day through your account (live stream date to be announced). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jrodan Posted March 12, 2015 Share Posted March 12, 2015 first album was great. second album was shit. will check this out with raised eyebrows. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gmoney Posted March 12, 2015 Author Share Posted March 12, 2015 first album was great. second album was shit. will check this out with raised eyebrows. I loved the first album, and thought the second was a step behind it. This new song is... umm... different. His voice isn't so jarring (which in this case is kind of weird). Very 80s vibe. Not sure I like it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jerseydave77 Posted March 12, 2015 Share Posted March 12, 2015 I liked Me Moan the first time through then I slowly came to find it disappointing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pukebileforever Posted May 4, 2015 Share Posted May 4, 2015 It's streaming now on the Sub Pop site if you preordered the LP. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LIGMA_BALLZ Posted May 4, 2015 Share Posted May 4, 2015 I loved me moan...I don't understand why people didn't like it more Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gmoney Posted June 1, 2015 Author Share Posted June 1, 2015 I didn't like the single very much when it came out, but after spending a little time with this, I really think I like it. Gonna try to find it in stores tomorrow. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gmoney Posted June 17, 2015 Author Share Posted June 17, 2015 I'll just talk to myself about this record. I picked it up yesterday (finally) and really enjoy it. Reviews have been poor-mediocre, but man it's so good! Nice fun listen - been enjoying a lot at work and the commute. I like it more than Me Moan I think. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pukebileforever Posted June 18, 2015 Share Posted June 18, 2015 Ya I agree, don't really get some of the negative reviews for this and Me Moan. Dude definitely has some interesting stuff going on although I sometimes wonder what he would've done post All Hell if he didn't get scooped up by Sub Pop. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LIGMA_BALLZ Posted June 23, 2015 Share Posted June 23, 2015 There was an accidental clear press of this album instead of the blue marble so sub pop sent me both after I first got a clear in the mail Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gmoney Posted June 23, 2015 Author Share Posted June 23, 2015 There was an accidental clear press of this album instead of the blue marble so sub pop sent me both after I first got a clear in the mail Weird I bought mine in store and think it's clear too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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