Carissa's Wierd Albums (3)
'Songs About Leaving'
Release Date 8/6/2002
Tracks 12
Label Sad Robot
See Album Tracklist and Review
What The Critics Say
Songs About Leaving is the third full-length release from Seattle nouveau rockers Carissa's Wierd. Highly deserving of the label "art rock" in many respects and "indie folk-rock" in others, Carissa's Wierd presents 12-tracks of hauntingly poignant vignettes, brought to life through a dynamic employment of classic string and keyboard elements (standouts include "Farewell to All These Rotten Teeth" and "September Come Take This Heart Away"). Jenn Ghetto and co-singer Matthew Brooke are extremely subtle in their vocalizations, with "You Should Be Hated Here" casting an almost ghost-like pall over chamber pop melodies, as well as "The Piano Song" and venomous scenarios "Sofisticated F**k Princess Please Leave Me Alone" and "Ignorant Piece of Sh*t." Their dual guitar play and vocal interchange are also well orchestrated to complement the moody, yet sprightly musical accompaniment of Sarah Standard and Jeff Hellis. Songs About Leaving's abundance of down-turned emotional muck may not be everyone's cup of tea, but it definitely stands out as something not quite so ordinary in the musical landscape. ~ Roxanne Blanford, All Music Guide
'You Should Be at Home Here'
Release Date 1/1/2001
Tracks 10
Label Brown
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What The Critics Say
The cover of Carissa's Wierd's (yes, it is supposed to be misspelled) album You Should Be At Home Here depicts a little toy skeleton. It's an appropriate introduction to the music, which often sounds morose, with eerie strings and processional march beats. But Carissa's Wierd's songs are always touching and intimate while evoking a sense of importance -- like Godspeed You Black Emperor! recast as an indie rock five-piece. This is a band always on the verge. During the climactic strains of "The Color That Your Eyes Changed With the Color of Your Hair," you half-expect to hear the sounds of thunder clouds rolling in -- there is some sort of storm brewing, for certain. "A Loose Hair Falls Into a Glass of Water Without Ice" could be an early, lo-fi Built to Spill track. The title track is the most resonant on the record -- filled with hushed vocals and guitar reverb. There's no feedback to be found, but somehow the song evokes Dinosaur Jr.. The epic, ten-minute-plus, part folk song, part experimental noise piece "The Part About the Vine Thats Growing Through the Window and Reaching Towards My Bed" has the slow-fi intensity of Low. But Carissa's Wierd is a difficult band to draw comparisons to. In the end, their use of violins brings to mind the dream pop outfit Hugo Largo, first introduced to the world via a rather academic pseudo-album, Brian Eno Wants You to Hear Something, and subsequently released through Eno's label, Opal. But Carissa's Wierd is darker. On the lyric sheet included with the album, the lyrics are all crossed out -- and this best embodies the conflicted feelings that the band represents in their music. ~ Charles Spano, All Music Guide
