Nathaniel Carroll releases a new record, literally

By: Philip Dickey, Assistant Features EditorPhilip Dickey, Assistant Features Editor

Posted: 12/10/04

Nathaniel Carroll has a big Christmas wish: he wants to sell 500 records. And he's going about it with true Christmas spirit. At $4 a record, he's practically giving them away.

Carroll, a Drury sophomore, is a singer-songwriter with one full-length CD under his belt. His newest release, The Piano EP, is a 7" vinyl record with three songs.

Why is Carroll turning to turntables? "I find that records have an inexpensive and nostalgic quality," said Carroll. "Records are very popular in the independent music scene, and releasing a few new songs on 7" white vinyl excited me."

While Carroll encourages his peers to invest in turntables for economic reasons (records are much cheaper than CDs), he won't turn anyone down.

"Some people buy the record and I will send them a copy of a CD with the songs on it because I know not everyone wants a record player," Carroll said. "I don't know if I am allowed to say if my songs are good enough to go buy a record player."

But it might be worth it; everyone should hear these songs. Tired of cliché Christmas carols? Nathaniel's carols are original, moving, significant, and, well, really good.

Carroll sings and plays piano on the record. And when Carroll plays piano, he resembles a monster (using all 88 pearly-whites).

"The opening track is entitled 'Midwestern Blues,'and it is an upbeat song with drums, guitar, bass, and an array of backing vocals and counterpoint chorus lines that, though slightly exaggerated, epitomize the preconceptions many people, including myself, have of New York, or any big city for that matter," Carol said.

On the second track, "Reunion Rag", Carroll is Paul McCartney-esque; exploring a new genre and mastering it with ease. Just like the former Beatles, who notoriously can't read music, Carroll is little shocked by his own piano playing.

"I have no idea how I wrote that song; it's so hard to play," Carroll said. "It's a ragtime piece in F# with a western saloon feel."

The last track, "Sometimes," displays Carroll's strongest lyrical work to date.

"The reoccurring theme in the song is a line that resolves every phrase, saying 'Things aren't quite what they seem,'" Carroll said.

Sure, it's a song about girlfriends, love, and miscommunication. But Carroll addresses well trodden pop themes without gimmicky hooks and smarmy lyrics. He always writes creatively.

The record packaging is creative, too. The artwork and screen-printing was done by three Drury people: Hayley Budd, Aaron Scott, and Nick Skyles.

Where can you buy the record?

Carroll's official record release show is on Saturday, December 11 at Billiard's Blue Room. The record can also be purchased online at www.boatsandstars.com/geneq or by emailing Carroll at ncarroll@drury.edu.

You may want to get a hold of him soon.

Carroll is currently making plans to fly to Los Angeles, to record his next album with David J. from the band Novi Split.

But that's not his final destination. Carroll plans to tour the country, maybe even the world, someday. And The Piano EP could be his ticket to ride.