Ocean Carolina – Maudlin Days
9 years ago Liv Carter Comments Off on Ocean Carolina – Maudlin Days
The artist bio describes Ocean Carolina’s new album, Maudlin Days, as “an exercise in giving up control and allowing the music to be what it’s meant to become.”
Since the turn of the century, more and more artists bended toward what they were being told was market demand, and lots of music was created based on what it should be. Genre boundaries started to erode, music became increasingly homogenized, and many artists turned to antics (both on an off stage) to distinguish themselves from the crowd. And so we ended up with Lady Gaga.
But then there was the Great Folk Uprising of the earlier 2010s, and next thing we knew, bands like Mumford & Sons and The Lumineers were outselling the big popstars.
There will always be demand for easily digestible pop tunes. But equally, there will always be a market for music that both makes you feel and think. Ocean Carolina has most definitely something to add to the second category.
Ocean Carolina’s Maudlin Days is not concerned with feeding us soundbites and catchy beats. This is all the more interesting considering main man Michael Simone first found success in music as an EDM producer and DJ.
The approach taken on Maudlin Days was distinctly different than a meticulously put together EDM track. The record was completed in just eleven days with producer Jon Graboff. This process shines on the more energetic tracks. Though, it is less effective on some of the slower songs, where the vocals try a little too hard to be serious at the expense of unencumbered storytelling.
Nevertheless, the storytelling remains central here, along with carefully layered guitars. The music underscores Simone’s voice, never fights for attention, and leaves the vocals lots of space to play.
Maudlin Days is modern in an old-fashioned kind of way.
Some key tracks to check out: “Don’t Carry On,” “Little Things,” “Once You’ve Done Me Wrong,” “If It Burns Out Bright”
For more about Ocean Carolina, please visit www.oldhandrecordcompany.com, and check out the video for “If It Burns Out Bright” below.
Liv Carter
She holds several certificates from Berklee College of Music, and a certificate in Positive Psychology from UC Berkeley.
Her main influences are coffee, cats, and Alexander Hamilton.
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