Song Of The Week: 2/23/14

Song: "Joan"

Artist: Carpenter

Album: "Sea To Sky"

Year: 2010



"Joan" is a song that appears to be about watching someone you love fading away. I get the sense that the vocalist is watching this loved one in her final days. Whatever illness she has has completely taken over her so much so that she doesn't even recognize him anymore nor her surroundings. Anyone who has ever watched a family member, friend or significant other succumb to a disease and literally die right in front of you can appreciate the lyrics to this song. Carpenter formed as a band back in 2005, hailing from Vancouver, Canada. Carpenter formed out of the ashes of post-punk bands All State Champion, By A Thread and Daggermouth. Daniel Sioui, the vocalist and rhythm guitarist for Carpenter was actually inspired to create his new band after listening to John Cougar Mellancamp of all people! Carpenter tries to incorporate that rootsy feel to their brand of progressive/indie punk rock. In fact, some people label their music "farmcore". Their support of agriculture and farmers is something the band takes very seriously. So much so that even famed country artist Willie Nelson has contacted the band about being involved in his Farm Aid benefit concerts. Carpenter released their debut album "Law Of The Land" in 2008. The band steadily built their reputation across Canada as a solid live band. In 2010, Carpenter signed to Paper + Plastick Records and released their follow up album "Sea To Sky". This album featured the single "Mean Things". The partnership with Paper + Plastick allowed the band to generate some buzz not only in their native Canada, but in the United States and Europe. The band also began touring more frequently in those places as well. Currently, since 2012, the band has been working on new material. Band members have confirmed that they will likely have a new album out sometime in 2014. Carpenter is a really solid band with a ton of potential. They are still quite an underground band, but if you meshed bands like The Flatliners and The Gaslight Anthem and maybe sprinkled in a little folk punk as well, you'd get something that resembles Carpenter. "Sea To Sky" is a great listen from the first song to the last. I'd recommend this album to anyone.