Tom Lynch

A dim, sentimental and soulful record, Barton Carroll’s "The Lost One" breezes by with the ease of a summertime flock of birds. The perpetual sideman, who’s worked with Crooked Fingers, Azure Ray and Dolorean, among others, Carroll employs mostly acoustic guitars (some gorgeous lap steel, too) for a folky, mountain-man sound. (The fiddle solo on "Superman" will have you recalling nineteenth-century imagery.) Carroll’s voice isn’t necessarily groundbreaking—in fact, a bit toneless and off at moments—but it does what’s necessary to push forward the stark, often haunting melodies. It’s a sad ordeal, melancholic even in the silent spaces between the notes, but feeling sorry for the songwriter isn’t an option—Carroll makes you take his hand and leads you along as the story unfolds. A song like "Those Days Are Gone, And My Heart Is Breaking," with its elegant finger-picking and bittersweet tone, will always win me over, and Carroll has an honesty about his delivery that will stop you dead. "It’s no disgrace to make an honest living," Carroll sings. Damn right.

Barton Carroll plays February 16 at Schubas, 3159 North Southport, (773)525-2508, at 10pm. $10-$12. (2008-02-12)

Also by Tom Lynch

Soft Focus
When bands emulate the mournful Brit-pop Oasis spouted in the mid-nineties, I take it in cautiously, as infrequent as it actually happens. Brooklyn’s Soft might have done it best so far with its "Gone Faded"—it would be unfair to label the five-piece a rip-off act, but it would be equally ignorant to not recognize the vast inspiration it has taken from the Gallaghers
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Tip of the Week
Transgender songwriter and artist Baby Dee has been building a strong cult following since 2001’s "Little Window," and last month’s splendid "Safe Inside the Day" (Drag City) should continue the graceful avalanche of attention
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Amongst the chaotic cacophony of Able Baker Fox’s debut record, "Voices," melodies are found and lost and found again, as a trio of vocals push against one another and pull away as the songs come to crushing ends
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Tip of the Week
Chicago minimalist crew Smallwire’s pretty, obviously titled "Songs for Sleeping In" on Moorworks is daring in its restraint and, by its very nature, humble in its presentation
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Tip of the Week
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Looking at Mr. Goodbar
(2008-01-22)

Soundcheck
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Tip of the Week
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Tip of the Week
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Care-Bare
(2008-01-08)

The Year in Rock
(2007-12-31)

Tip of the Week
(2007-12-31)

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